Facebook starts merging Instagram, Messenger chat features on iOS, Android

By Aaron Mamiit Published April 25, 2023

Facebook has apparently started merging the chat services of Instagram and Messenger on mobile devices, following through with a plan that was revealed in early 2019.

Recommended Videos

For some people, a notification has popped up on the iOS and Android versions of Instagram, offering “a new way to message” while showing the photo-sharing app’s icon alongside Messenger’s. The notification, which offers users a choice of updating the app, also lists features such as a new colorful design, emoji reactions, swipe to reply, and the option of chatting with friends on Facebook.

After tapping the update button, the messaging icon of Instagram will be replaced by the Messenger logo. It is not yet possible for all Instagram users to message Facebook users, but the feature was confirmed by a spokesperson.

“A small set of people were able to update to a new test experience for Instagram messaging. We hope they enjoy the experience and we are looking forward to testing it in other countries so we can keep learning from this,” a spokesperson for Facebook told Digital Trends.

Combining Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram

In January 2019, The New York Times reported that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was looking to merge the messaging services of Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, allowing users to chat with each other across the three platforms.

Zuckerberg also reportedly ordered all three apps to adopt end-to-end encryption, with the merger set to roll out in 2020. The Instagram notification may mean that the plan has been set in motion, but it remains to be seen if all three apps will be integrated into one messaging service before the year ends.

Updated April 17, 2020: Added statement from Facebook

Contributor

Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…

Topics

Cars

CarPlay in iOS 18.4: four key feature upgrades explained

CarPlay shown in March 2025.

Apple rarely updates CarPlay, but several changes are expected in the upcoming iOS 18.4 update. There’s truly something for everyone in the update.

Let’s begin with the fun news. In iOS 18.4, CarPlay will be integrating sports app functionality. This enhancement will enable drivers to view live sports scores and information on the road. Since this feature is available through an API, any sports app developer can implement it. Apple’s official Sports app will likely be the first, although that hasn't been confirmed.

Mobile

Android is prepping notification summaries. Let’s hope it’s better than iOS

Android notification summaries concept.

So far, Google has done an admirable job of putting generative AI tools on Android smartphones. Earlier today, it announced further refinements to how users interact with Gemini AI assistant and extended a few freebies, too. Now, Google seems to be chasing an AI tool that has worked poorly on iPhones.
The folks over at AndroidAuthority took a peek at the code of Android 13’s latest beta update and found the mention of“notification summaries.” To enable this feature, users will have to flick a dedicated toggle under the Notifications dashboard of the Settings app.

A thoughtful approach for Android
Thankfully, users will be able to disable notifications for apps that they don’t want to see summarized notifications. An analysis of the strings suggests that the feature will only summarize notifications that host conversational content, such as messages, and no other app alerts.
This is a thoughtful strategy, and will likely avoid the mess that came from summarized notifications within the Apple Intelligence bundle. Notification summaries are a useful way to catch up on the chatter in a buzzy group, like friends or workplace chats.

Mobile

Google Maps’ new feature sees Android play catchup to iOS

Samsung Galaxy S24 in Marble Gray showing Google Maps.

Android users are getting their first glimpse of a new operating system feature while using Google Maps, as the app is the first to make use of the Live Updates ability that was added for Android 16. The feature will give users updated information in their status bar so they can keep track of ongoing activity such as following directions using maps.

Similar to Apple's Live Activities system, the Android function can potentially be used by a range of apps but has first been seen in Google Maps. "Live Updates are a new class of notifications that help users monitor and quickly access important ongoing activities," Android developers explained in a post highlighting the feature when it was first announced.