In the most recent update of the iOS Facebook messenger App, the user experience has been improved and manipulate it to simulate external experiences and influences more than ever.
The new functionalities include a instant camera short cut, possibly due to the extent of pictures sent to friends over messenger. To adapt to the ever changing needs of the market, Facebook have now made this easier than ever, reducing the steps the user must go through from 4/5 to 2/3, resulting in increased efficiency and hopeful visual communication amongst friends.
The update has adapted many aspects of Instagram and Snapchats interface, including the ability to add filters, manipulate text and create custom messages. Since taking over Snapchat, this lateral move is understandable from a business point of view, yet it may make the two social platforms too similar, therefore negating the use of something like snapchat.
On the other hand, I personally feel the interface's simplicity has been tainted. The board appeal of Facebook over numerous age groups and demographics almost gives it a USP which may never die out. Often grandparents are on Facebook, simply as a way of communicating with friends from the past who may be located all over the world- or just keeping up to date with the grand kids. If the messenger app continues to evolve appealing to a predominantly younger audience, Facebook could risk alienating secondary audiences or risk app un-instillation due to quite a vast change.
However, this could be counter argued by the extent older audiences play on the app, such as swiping right or left to now enable new features. As a 20 year old with a decent understanding of technology, even I got confused and stuck on new features- unknowing how to just send a message to a friend.
Facebook have added extra benefits to the app to reinforce its overall purpose- to simply and easily communicate with friends. The new features only applies when you hit the new centre button (the same as snapchats capture icon), in the bottom middle of the screen. When this is activated, two more functions are available, with a swipe left- All Photo's; with a swipe right- Message writing function in Helvetica bold (the same as Snapchats go-to 'in-snap' typeface). These similarities and overlaps are possibly due to Facebook taking over Snapchat, drawing influence form Instagram the way Instragram took influence from them, directly copying the 'story' function.
In conclusion, the interface of the new Facebook App update simplifies its overall intention of instant communication- yet may be swaying too much away from written spoken language. This has the potential to alienate sections of the audience, especially if they do not have the patience to investigate what the new functions do and just see it as 'confusing change'. The user experience for this reason has both been improved and possibly hindered as this is quite a drastic update, the experience could personally depend on how receptive the user is to change. The user experience none the less has been simplified, allowing more functions with ease at a swipe. The benefit of the camera function now means rather than pre-deciding who the photograph is being sent to, you have the freedom and flexibility to capture a moment and decide later- much like Snapchat. With the increase in older people using Snapchat and its many filters, it is understandable why this route has been pursued by Messenger, yet may negate the role of future social media platforms who operate in the same kind of structure.
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