Facebook messenger is the instant messaging part of facebook – just on mobile devices.

So, if you’re using Facebook on a computer – have you ever used the Private Message function?

Facebook thought that was a pretty cool feature, to be able to private message (aka Instant Message) your facebook friends. But, on a mobile device, they added even more functionality to it. They added the ability to make a voice call or video call to a facebook friend. You can use it like Texting. It became such a useful feature that it was a viable app all on its own. That App is now named Facebook Messenger and it is the only way, on a mobile device, to send a private message to a facebook friend. I think it’s a pretty wonderful app and I use it a lot.

There has been some bad press on it because of the permissions it demands. If you ever looked at the permissions for any app that can text, call, video and send pictures, you will see all the same permissions. It’s not a problem.

Hey Barbara,

Yeah … that “I got a friend request from you …” is a current hoax/scam going around. It is nasty that it’s delivered using Messenger.

Messenger on your mobile devices is an app, it’s a blue lightning bolt icon. You can just uninstall it like any other app. On a computer, it’s just a Facebook chat message. No way to turn that off. Here is Facebook’s help on messages.

I actually like Facebook Messenger – it is my primary texting/messaging app on my phone. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.