Why Facebookers are Freaking and Why You Shouldn't

In a nutshell, Facebook created their Messenger App in 2011, but have now forced it upon it's users, informing them that they will no longer be able to send messages without it. People don't like being told what to do. They especially don't like being told they have to use something that requires access to their phone's contacts, calling, and camera. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't be wary of Facebook (there are reasons for public mistrust when it comes to privacy). What I am saying is that the overreaction to this Messenger App is just that, an overreaction.

Sure, people may dislike the the mobile app itself. It may take up too much of a memory resource on your specific phone. You may not like the extremely white background you can't change that assaults your eyes in the dark. Someone may not like the idea of having two separate Facebook applications on their tablet. Maybe you don't like 675 different people being able to bing your phone repeatedly at whatever time they choose. All of these are valid reasons to not like or want the Messenger App. What's not okay? Freaking out because of the application's permission requests.

It wants to use your phone so you can call your Messenger friends directly from the application, not because it wants to make calls for you without your knowing. It wants access to your media files because it requires that permission in order for you to attach your pictures from your phone to a chat, not because it wants to collect everyone's personal nudies. Messenger wants a access to your Wifi connections not because it is keeping a database of your booty calls' houses; it's doing that because it wants to switch you over to Wifi instead of cell service if possible. Messenger uses data, not cell service like SMS, and data is limited and expensive. It doesn't want your microphone because it wants to blackmail you with all the weird private conversations you have with your cat, it requires that permission in order for you to send voice messages through the chat. 

Everything that you've heard negative about the permissions of this App isn't new, and it all stems from Android's very blunt and generic permission requests. Unlike Apple's permissions page, Google just lists everything that the application wants access too (Apple's permissions page has a much more soothing way to tell you what the app wants). I'm not saying that you shouldn't be cautious about what you agree to, but there are very specific reasons why Messenger is requesting these permissions. A few people in the public spotlight decided to combine this information with their distorted hatred for social media and scared the daylights out of everyone who didn't know any better.

If you were to go through and look at all the other application's you've agreed to give permissions to, you'd see that what Messenger is requesting is not out of the ordinary. Relax, and chat away.