As with any popular app, Messenger has changed over time. New features were added and bug fixes were implemented. Did you know you can set nicknames for your contacts? Or that you can start a group chat? Tap or click here for five things you can do on Facebook Messenger that you may not have known about. Until a few years ago, you could create a Messenger account without ever having had a Facebook account. That’s not the case anymore, but there’s a way to get around this obstacle.
Do you even Facebook?
It’s understandable if you’ve avoided using Facebook or deactivated your account. Facebook is known for its invasive tracking methods, which don’t stop when you’re off the site. Facebook’s pixel tracking technology lets website developers track Facebook users for ad targeting. Facebook introduced the Privacy Center to let you know what the social network collects on you. You can review the data and change the settings to reduce the impact on your privacy. Tap or click here to learn more. Facebook comes along with the option to use the Messenger app, which is excellent for keeping in touch with your Facebook friends. Until a couple of years ago, you just needed a phone number to use Messenger. Now you need a Facebook account, but the catch is that it doesn’t have to be active. That’s right. You can set up a Facebook account solely to use Messenger then deactivate it immediately. If you currently have a deactivated account, you can use it to create a Messenger account without reactivating it. RELATED: 12 tricks for WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, Google Chat
Using Messenger without a Facebook account
If you never had a Facebook account or deleted the one you had, you can still use Messenger to create one then deactivate the Facebook account. Here’s how:
Download the Messenger app from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. Open Messenger and tap Create New Account. Fill out the fields to create a Facebook account, tapping Next on each tab until you get to the Sign Up button. Note: Use the first and last name you want displayed in your Messenger account. You’ll be asked to verify your account via text or email. Once your Facebook account is created, you’ll have an active Messenger account as well.
Now you can choose to keep your Facebook account active or go right ahead and deactivate it. To deactivate your Facebook account from your computer:
From your main profile, click the downward-facing arrow in the top-right.Select Settings & Privacy > Settings.Click Your Facebook Information in the left column. Click Deactivation and Deletion.Choose Deactivate Account then click Continue to Account Deactivation and follow the onscreen instructions.
To deactivate your Facebook account from your iOS or Android device:
Open the Facebook app.From your main profile, tap the hamburger menu icon in the bottom-right.Tap Settings & Privacy > Settings.Tap Account Ownership and Control. Tap Deactivation and Deletion.Tap Deactivate Account, then tap Continue to Account Deactivation and follow the onscreen instructions.
When you deactivate your Facebook account, you can still chat with friends on Messenger, and people can see your Facebook profile picture. Other people can search for you and send you a message. Is Messenger worth keeping your Facebook profile around? If not, you can delete Facebook permanently. Note that this will also delete Messenger and all your messages. Tap or click here if you’re ready to say farewell to Facebook. You may also like: End-to-end encryption comes to Facebook Messenger – Here’s how to enable it
