Messenger app Archives

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

Bristol pensioner shared naked child picture with undercover cop on messenger app

A 72-year-old man named Cyril Taylor received a suspended prison sentence after admitting to sending an indecent image of a child via the messaging app Kik, not realizing he was communicating with an undercover police officer. He was sentenced to nine months in prison for two offenses but had the sentence suspended for 18 months due to a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation." Taylor previously faced convictions for possessing and distributing indecent images of children and had a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued in early 2023, which prohibited him from using social media applications with direct messaging capabilities. Despite these restrictions, he downloaded Kik in June 2023 and sent an indecent image of a child aged around nine or ten years old. Law enforcement discovered him deleting the app after being notified of his actions. In total, he has two convictions for seven offenses, including a breach of the SHPO involving Facebook Messenger in April 2024. The judge imposed a suspended sentence of nine months, mandated 100 hours of community service, and required participation in 26 rehabilitation sessions.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

Meta to Shut Independent Messenger Website

Meta will close its standalone Messenger website in April 2026, requiring users to use Facebook or the Messenger mobile app for messaging. Users without Facebook accounts can still use the Messenger app and restore chat histories with backup PINs. This decision follows the previous discontinuation of Messenger desktop applications, which redirected users to Facebook's website. Meta aims to streamline services and focus on improving the mobile and web versions of Messenger, despite user dissatisfaction with increased reliance on Facebook accounts.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

Apple set to restrict apps by age in Australia

Adults in Australia will soon face new age verification requirements when downloading applications, similar to changes being implemented in Brazil, Singapore, and two U.S. states—Louisiana and Utah. Users will need to confirm their age through payment methods or by declaring an age range. This could restrict younger users from accessing apps even with parental consent if there is a mismatch in age verification. Apps like Discord and Meta’s Messenger have age ratings of 18+, preventing younger users from downloading them. Reddit is also classified for users 18 and over, despite potential eligibility for those aged 16 and older. The flexibility and implications of these age verification changes remain uncertain as further clarification is expected.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Putin’s MAX messenger app banned in the Russian army due to “insufficient security”

Russian forces are facing communication challenges that have allowed Ukraine to reclaim hundreds of square kilometers of territory. The difficulties stem from regulatory actions by Russia's communications authority, Roskomnadzor, which has limited access to the messaging app Telegram and proposed a complete ban on it by April 1. This decision has faced backlash, with military personnel expressing concerns about the impact on coordination. Russian troops have been advised against using the state-run messaging app MAX due to security concerns. Additionally, the loss of access to the Starlink network, previously used by Russian forces for communication, has further complicated their operational capabilities, contributing to Ukraine's territorial gains.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Meta Pulls the Plug on Dedicated Messenger Website

Meta plans to discontinue its standalone Messenger website, messenger.com, effective April 15, 2026. Users will still be able to send and receive messages through Facebook on the web or via the Messenger mobile app, with automatic redirection to facebook.com/messages for desktop messaging. The mobile app will remain operational for users without a Facebook account, and chat history can be retained using a PIN number. The decision has disappointed users, especially those who have deactivated their Facebook accounts. Messenger started as Facebook Chat in 2008 and became a standalone app in 2011, but Meta has recently integrated it back into the Facebook app in 2023.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Meta is shutting down Messenger website

Meta plans to discontinue the standalone Messenger website in April 2026, redirecting users to facebook.com/messages. Users with a Facebook account can access Messenger through this site or the mobile app, while those without a Facebook account can only use the Messenger mobile app. Users can recover past conversations using a backup PIN but can reset it if forgotten. Reactions to this decision have been mixed, with some users unhappy about needing to use Facebook's interface again. Messenger was originally launched as "Facebook Chat" in 2008, with a standalone app introduced in 2011, and messaging capabilities were removed from the main app in 2014, but reintegrated in 2023.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Messenger Website Is Shutting Down in April: Here’s What Next for Users

Meta will discontinue the standalone Messenger website on April 2026, following the retirement of the standalone Messenger applications for Mac and Windows in December 2025. Users will still be able to message through Facebook on desktop and via the Messenger app on mobile. After the shutdown, attempts to access the Messenger website will redirect to facebook.com/messages. Users without a Facebook account will only be able to access Messenger through the mobile app. Users can restore chat history using a PIN, which can be reset if forgotten. The decision was revealed by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, and Meta has started notifying users through pop-up notifications. Messenger was originally Facebook Chat in 2008, rebranded to Messenger in 2011, became a standalone service in 2014, and introduced a desktop application in 2020. Despite being one of the top four messaging applications globally, the decision has disappointed users.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Messenger Website Shutting Down Worldwide

Meta has retired its standalone Messenger website, redirecting users to Facebook’s integrated Messages interface. Users can no longer send or receive messages through the Messenger site and must use facebook.com/messages instead. The mobile Messenger app remains unaffected. Those who used Messenger without a Facebook account will find their desktop access eliminated, requiring them to use the mobile app. Users with end-to-end encrypted chats must manage their secure storage PIN for restoring messages. Meta encourages users to export their data before the transition, aiming to streamline Messenger functionalities and reduce support costs. The closure was first reported by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi and further covered by TechCrunch, with Meta notifying users of the change.

AppWizard

February 19, 2026

Messenger is Shutting Down: How to Keep Chatting After April

Meta is notifying Messenger web users that the platform will be discontinued, with support for messenger.com ending in April 2026. The Messenger desktop application has already been phased out, leaving the website as the only option for messaging until its shutdown. Users will be redirected to facebook.com/messages after the discontinuation. However, individuals without Facebook accounts can still use Messenger via the Facebook web interface or the mobile app. Meta also allows users to save and migrate conversations by setting up a PIN. The long-term availability of Messenger without a Facebook account is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 19, 2026

Meta is shuttering Messenger’s standalone website, which is a thing that exists

Meta plans to discontinue the standalone Messenger website in April, redirecting users to facebook.com/messages for desktop messaging. Users can restore chat history by entering a PIN, which can also be reset if forgotten. Many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the removal of the website, especially those who deactivated their Facebook accounts. This decision follows the discontinuation of Messenger's standalone desktop applications earlier. Messenger originated as Facebook Chat in 2008, became a standalone app in 2011, and was integrated back into the Facebook app in 2023.