Kind of, yes. The other 96% of the world population has pretty much managed just that. No where else depends on iMessage and the idea of depending on such a single-platform app to keep in touch with people is baffling.
The rest of the world has the analog problem of some people boycotting fb messenger or WhatsApp and trying to get their social circle to move tob signal or telegram
Fortunately it's easy to migrate off Facebook and just keep using messenger to talk to people. Not so easy with Apple.