11 Reasons Why Pulling Messenger From Facebook Mobile Is a Terrible Idea

Image: Mashable composite. Wikimedia Commons

This post reflects the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Mashable as a publication.

[Update: Some time after we published this post. Facebook reached me with some clarifications and opposing views. In the spirit of transparency, and because I find them quite illuminating, I'm placing them below, in place with each of the points addressed by Facebook]

Facebook is making what could be its dumbest decision ever: It's pulling chat out of the core Facebook app and forcing mobile users who want to chat to install its Facebook Messenger app.

This is a terrible idea. Here, Facebook, are my top 11 reasons why.

1. I don't need another app

I already have way too many installed and recently did some app spring cleaning to sort out the mess. If I add Facebook Messenger, I'm unlikely to use it often enough to want to keep it.

2. Facebook Messenger is sub-par

No one I've spoken to likes the app. To be fair, it does have a lot of positive reviews on iTunes. So maybe I'm just talking to the wrong people - but I still don't want it.

Facebook: In the few months following the launch of Messenger 3.0, the number of people using Messenger grew more than 70% and we've seen a large increase in the number of messages sent.3. If I wanted to use Facebook Messenger, I would have installed it

Since I've been a Facebook member for years and have been using the built-in chat for almost as long, you can assume that I like it the way it is, thank you very much.

4. This will actually hurt Facebook

If you insist on pulling chat out of Facebook Mobile, you will also suck the real-time nature out of the social platform for millions of users. You can't force people to install Facebook Messenger, so they may simply leave to find another platform with better real-time communications features. Is this why you bought WhatsApp?

Facebook: Messenger was rebuilt from the ground up to be an instant mobile-to-mobile communications platform for people who want to be reachable at all times - we've found that people get replies 20% faster on Messenger than on Facebook.5. You didn't ask first

Your own page on Facebook has 144 million Likes. That's a lot of engaged reach. Why didn't you ask some of the people who like you what they thought of this idea? Were you afraid they would say 'Hell, no!'? Making this kind of radical change will leave a bad taste in users' mouths. Remember, they can't stand when you change things. I know, you've only just become a ' mobile first ' company, but expect this to hurt you on that front, as well.

Facebook: We have tested this in a handful of countries for the last several months and found that people enjoy the Messenger experience - it's faster than messaging in the core app, and Messenger has features that aren't available in the core app like the Groups tab. (We're also testing a new composer that includes a selfie cam and more ways to express yourself.)6. Since I can't run two apps on one screen in iPhone, this is the worst idea ever

Seriously, I assume you want me running both the Facebook app and Messenger at the same time. The iPhone can multi-task, but for in-Facebook communication, I'd want both apps on screen (I really want one app). What do I do now?

Facebook: Messages are already disabled from the core app for people who have Messenger and Facebook installed. Linking between the two apps is quick and easy. 7. I love Chatheads, don't take them out of Facebook

Of all the things that came out of Facebook Home, Chatheads is the one winning idea. I love having the little heads pop up on my screen when it's time to chat, being able to drag and drop them and even being able to deep-six them when I'm done. Why would you take such a smart feature out of Facebook?

Facebook: Chat Heads aren't going anywhere on Android. In fact, people who download Messenger on Android gain Chat Heads because they were not a feature in the core Android app. The Android platform enables Chat Heads to sit on top of any application. This isn't possible on iOS and Chats Heads were built in the main iOS app because it was a quick and fun way to access your messages.8. Switching apps will only increase annoyance

I assume that the little green button, the one that indicates someone is live on Facebook will remain, but now when I tap it in Facebook, a second app will load. I'll be constantly switching back and forth, likely cursing Facebook the whole time.

Facebook: Tapping 'Return to Facebook' from Messenger takes you right back to where you left off in the Facebook app. Just like tapping on News Feed from your Messages tab if you don't have Messenger installed.9. Worst idea since Facebook Paper (or Home)

Don't take this the wrong way, Facebook, but your home-grown app business is shaping up to be a huge fail. Haven't you noticed how when you buy, it flies ( Instagram) and when you build it fails ( Home)? Messenger is, at least, familiar inside Facebook, but it really needs the whole environment around it to truly fly. Don't clip its wings.

Facebook: Since relaunching Messenger in October we've seen an increase in usage by 70%. Mark [Zuckerberg] mentioned this on our last earnings call.10. One of your biggest user bases, Moms and Dads, will hate you

Teens don't care because an increasing number of them are chatting elsewhere (see WhatsApp - above - and Snapchat), but parents live on your platform. Many of them are accessing Facebook through their iPad. If you take messenger out of there, you will have a revolt on your hands and as soon as parents figure out how to complain ('Is there a 'contact Us' somewhere on this site?'), they will.

Facebook: This is only for the iOS and Android experience and does not apply to iPad.11. Twitter will thank you for this huge f* ... mess up

Twitter is not much of a real-time chat tool, but the company did just introduce something just like that under its quirky Vine six-second creation tool. Sure, not a lot of regular people use Vine, but maybe Twitter will now consider embedding the whole service inside Twitter mobile, just to make you look silly.

My point is, removing Messenger from Facebook mobile is a bad idea on many levels. You should reconsider. I know I would.