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Comment by darkstar999 | Hacker News Reader

While we're on this topic, did it annoy anyone else how they are trying to force usage of their mobile messaging app? The other day I begrudgingly installed it because someone sent me a message and Facebook wouldn't show me the text until I installed the app.

I installed it (android), and found that it litters my screen with my contacts' "head" even when I'm not in the app. I had to opt-out of that "feature".

I've seen multiple public posts in my feed along the lines of "I saw you messaged me but I'm not going to install the messaging app..."

Thoughts?

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I don't really see the big issue to be honest. When they split the app out, it was the first time I actually installed it, because I wanted to have the messenger, without anything else from facebook. Sure, it has some annoying features, but they can be disabled. I don't like it, but don't understand the hate people have for it.

There's also the issue of permissions, but they actually use all of the features. Maybe not in very attractive ways, but I can see how they try to make the app convenient for the average person.

The defaults are terrible. I managed to get most of the really annoying stuff turned off after a few minutes. I still get asked from time to time to connect it in with my contacts or whatever which I ignore. But it's just a small change in code and they'll just do it for you.

tbh, it's not a very good messenger app anyways. Pretty buggy even in normal conversations as little bubbles fail to scroll up and obscure the current conversation...

The facebook messaging app wants access most everything my phone can give it. No thanks.

Android, unfortunately, has really, really broad permissions and they're only getting worse.

I removed all FB apps and use the mobile web site. Works fine. Messaging shouldn't be inside a walled garden anyway; whatever happened to XMPP?

I completely refuse to install it. My only point of resistance is that they tried to force me, but that's enough.

Resistance is not futile. TextSecure from Android is coming to iOS.

I refused, and then uninstalled the main app. Their required permissions for the Android apps were getting ridiculous.

This is the current meme, but really why are the permissions ridiculous? As a developer they seem absolutely normal to me? Help me understand please.

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