When Facebook (META -1.68%) started pushing Messenger as a stand-alone app, it raised questions. Why force users to change the way they connect with friends?
Facebook doesn't see it that way. Rather, in a response to TechCrunch, which broke the news in late July, the company described the shift as simplifying the messaging experience:
As we've said, our goal is to focus development efforts on making Messenger the best mobile messaging experience possible and avoid the confusion of having separate Facebook mobile messaging experiences. Messenger is used by more than 200 million people every month, and we'll keep working to make it an even more engaging way to connect with people.
Sounds interesting, right? If only it were that simple.
Hysterical headlines accusing Facebook of overreaching in its data collection practices has marred early reviews of Messenger. Mythbusting has since alleviated some concerns, though it's obvious that fear remains.
For investors, that leaves an interesting, and potentially troubling, question unanswered: Can the social network convince its 650 million-plus daily active mobile users that Facebook Messenger is safe to use? Or will privacy hawks demand a total switchover to ad-free WhatsApp, which Facebook spent $16 billion to acquire? Let's review the required permissions for both services, and see if switching would make a difference for users.
Facebook Messenger vs. WhatsApp: What we know right now
According to Google (GOOGL 0.04%) (GOOG 0.21%) Play, WhatsApp has nearly double the number of reviews -- 18.4 million vs. 9.6 million -- and scores higher among those using the app -- 4.4 stars vs. 3.9 stars.
The variety of permissions Facebook requires for using Messenger is at least partly responsible for the difference. "If they're not spying on us, then why are they taking away our option to [not] download Messenger," wrote user "Chris M."
Would he do any better using WhatsApp instead? See for yourself. The following specifies permissions required for both apps, with the differences highlighted in bold:
Identity
Contacts/Calendar
Location
SMS
Phone
Photos/Media/Files
Camera/Microphone
Wi-Fi connection information
Device ID & call information
Other
|
Device & app history
Identity
Contacts/Calendar
Location
SMS
Photos/Media/Files
Camera/Microphone
Wi-Fi connection information
Device ID & call information
Other
|
The price of using Facebook Messenger
So, there you have it. WhatsApp doesn't ask for as much access to your data. Yay? Here's the thing, Fool: Facebook, like Google, is in the data business, and Messenger is a channel through which it collects information. Some of it will be monetized; some of it won't.
By contrast, WhatsApp is in the communications business. Facebook benefits if WhatsApp gets more unconnected people to the Internet. There's no need to ask for permissions because the target audience -- or at least the intended audience -- doesn't have as much useful data to share.
When they do, many years from now, Facebook will no doubt ask them to upgrade from WhatsApp to Messenger. In the meantime, it makes sense for the services to co-exist.