Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg plans to integrate its three social network’s messaging services. But, is this a good idea? Considering the litany of data privacy scandals that Facebook endured in 2018, is a united messaging infrastructure really safe?
To be clear, under this new strategy, the three social networking services would still function as standalone apps. However, their messaging infrastructure will become unified. So, you can send a message on Instagram and read the reply on WhatsApp and Facebook messenger.
It’s no easy feat to combine these messaging infrastructures. According to reports, thousands of Facebook employees must go through the painstaking process of re-configuring the apps from scratch.
Yes, it’s every bit as challenging as imagined. So, it makes you wonder — why bother?
Why Zuckerberg Wants a Unified Messaging Platform
Facebook’s goal is to keep its billions of users engaged within its ecosystem. In order to do this, the company is stitching its messaging platforms together with the hope of increasing utility.
Zuckerberg believes that a unified messaging infrastructure will increase user engagement on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Also, it would reduce the chances of using rival messaging services such as iMessage. But, of course, there’s another, more obvious reason — profit.
Facebook intends to make more money from user’s interaction with the apps. Whether it involves building up its ad business or adding new services, the company is set to increase profit with this bold move.
There’s just one thing — how does it affect user privacy?
How the Integration Affects Data Privacy
Since user information will be shared between the three services, it’s understandable that users are worried about data privacy. Besides, Facebook has a bad track record when it comes to keeping user information safe.
However, reports reveal that the apps would incorporate end-to-end encryption. In other words, only participants will be privy to the content that’s sent across the three messaging platforms. For example, a Facebook user can send an encrypted message to an Instagram user and vice versa.
With that said, the company has not released an exact timeline for the integration. The tech company said in a statement, “As you would expect, there is a lot of discussion and debate as we begin the long process of figuring out all the details of how this will work.”
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