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How to use Messenger without a Facebook account
Facebook Messenger lets you send a message to anyone on Facebook, regardless of your friendship status (unless they’ve blocked you). If you are, in fact, friends on the social network, you can also call them or initiate a video chat.
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.
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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.
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Between security and revelations surrounding Facebook’s tracking policies, it’s no secret that your privacy is at risk with the social network.
Facebook has revealed a tracking technology called pixel, which website developers can add to their site’s code to track Facebook users for ad targeting. Mozilla and the Markup teamed up to get a closer look at Facebook’s pixel tracking network. Tap or click here for our report and see how you can become part of the study.
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If you’ve ever wanted to talk to strangers without looking them in the eye, this may be the perfect app for you. An audio-based social network is taking the world by storm. Everyone’s buzzing about the social platform solely for audio chats.
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If you’re worried about privacy breaches on your mobile devices you should be. Hackers and snoops are everywhere looking to find as much information about you as possible for many reasons. And none of them are good.
There are tons of issues that can stem from using certain apps on your devices, like your personal data being shared or sold. Some apps, like a popular free VPN, have even exposed to selling out its users. Tap or click here to find out why free VPNs are bad news.
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Facebook is many things, but “easy to understand” isn’t one of them. There’s a definite learning curve to using the site, and certain options like settings and privacy features can be difficult for people who aren’t tech-savvy to find.
Want to know what the future holds? Facebook has an app for that
Facebook has been churning out new products at a rate we haven’t seen before. From Zoom competitors to a proposed fiat currency, the world’s largest social network plans on cementing its relevance for some time to come.
How to silence Facebook when you need a break from social media
Non-essential businesses are closed and in-person gatherings are discouraged. It’s no wonder people are spending more time on social media than ever. But is it doing more harm than good?
Studies by the NIH have found a correlation between social media use and anxiety, which can pose even more of a problem as users spend more time on those platforms than ever before thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tap or click here to see how your social media posts can diagnose your mental state.