Facebook Messenger vs Kik

June 04, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is an instant messaging service and software application which provides text and voice communication. Available now for Android and iPhone.
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Kik
chat on your terms. Looking for a new and engaging way to interact with your audience? Have amazing content or a cool experience you'd love to get discovered? Kik offers brands and content providers unique ways to talk with their fans, and find new followers too!
Facebook Messenger and Kik are both popular messaging apps, but they have different features and cater to distinct user preferences. Facebook Messenger, as the messaging component of the Facebook platform, offers a wide range of features and a large user base. It allows users to connect with friends and family, send text messages, make voice and video calls, share multimedia content, and even play games. Facebook Messenger also supports various integrations and features like group chats, stickers, and the ability to connect with businesses and make payments. On the other hand, Kik is known for its simplicity and focus on anonymity. It allows users to chat using only a username and offers features like group chats, multimedia sharing, stickers, and a built-in web browser. Kik also supports bots for additional functionality and entertainment.

See also: Top 10 Business Messaging platforms
Facebook Messenger vs Kik in our news:

2023. Facebook Messenger is finally adding default end-to-end encryption



Facebook Messenger is enabling end-to-end encryption as the default setting for all personal messages and calls, marking a significant update along with various other improvements. This development is particularly noteworthy for individuals prioritizing online privacy. While Messenger initially introduced end-to-end encryption as an optional feature in 2016, users were required to actively opt in. After announcing tests for default end-to-end encryption in August, Meta, the parent company, is now poised to roll out this security feature for all users. This means that individual Messenger conversations will be completely private, shielded from unauthorized access, including by Meta itself. The encryption covers both text conversations and video calls, though group chats with more than two participants remain without this added protection, at least for the time being.


2021. Facebook is bringing end-to-end encryption to Messenger calls



Facebook has expanded the availability of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to include voice calls and video calls on Facebook Messenger. Since 2016, E2EE has been an option for securing text conversations on Facebook's primary messaging platform. Despite facing pressure from governmental entities to reconsider its plans for end-to-end encryption, Facebook is now extending this safeguard to encompass both voice and video calls made through Messenger. This implies that no one, including Facebook itself, can access or monitor the content of these communications. However, it's important to note that activating encryption is a voluntary action, meaning that without opting in to this new feature, your calls may still be susceptible to unauthorized data access.


2020. Facebook updates Messenger Rooms to take on Zoom



Messenger Rooms, Facebook's competitor to Zoom, is introducing new features to enhance the ease of creating and discovering Rooms, as well as personalizing the Rooms experience. The updated version of Messenger Rooms will prominently display the Rooms to which you've been invited at the top of your Chats tab in your inbox, making them easier to locate. Additionally, the option to create a new Room will be prominently placed in the Chats tab, ensuring its visibility. Various changes have been made to Rooms management as well. You can now create a Room with a default, suggested, or custom activity, set a future start date, and customize your audience selection. Furthermore, the Manage Rooms feature allows you to view, join, edit, or delete the Rooms you have created, as well as invite more people to join an existing Room.


2020. Facebook Messenger's new chat plugin for business websites allows to reach non-Facebook users



Facebook is simplifying the process for businesses to utilize its Messenger service on their respective websites. Previously, the customer chat plugin required visitors to the website to be logged into Facebook in order to engage in direct conversations with businesses. This requirement limited its adoption. However, with the updated plugin, Facebook is removing this limitation by allowing customers to interact with businesses even without being logged in. A new "continue as guest" option will be provided instead. From the business's perspective, they can continue to leverage all their existing tools to effectively manage conversations with these online users, irrespective of whether they are logged in or not.


2020. Businesses on Facebook can now respond to customers in Messenger



Facebook is introducing a new inbox feature on Messenger, enabling business owners to conveniently respond to customer messages using the same app they use for personal conversations with friends and family. This update streamlines communication for businesses, allowing them to handle all their interactions from a single app. No longer will they need to switch between multiple applications to compose and reply to customer inquiries, which many business owners found to be a frustrating process. However, if preferred, business users can still utilize Facebook's Page Manager app to manage their posts, create ads, access Page insights, and respond to messages.


2020. Facebook announces Zoom-like clone with Messenger Rooms



Facebook has introduced a new service called Messenger Rooms to rival Zoom. Messenger Rooms offers a tile-view video chat experience capable of accommodating up to 50 participants. Unlike Zoom, joining a Messenger Room does not require a Facebook account. Moreover, there are no time restrictions on calls made through Messenger Rooms. To ensure privacy, Messenger Rooms provides controls for users to manage who can access their rooms, including the ability to lock or unlock them. If a room is unlocked, anyone with the link can join and share it with others. However, the room creator must be present to initiate the call. With the recent security and privacy concerns surrounding Zoom, Messenger Rooms presents an alternative option for individuals seeking a different video conferencing solution.


2020. Facebook takes on Zoom with Messenger desktop app on macOS and Windows



Facebook is set to launch a dedicated desktop app for Messenger on macOS and Windows. With the ongoing global pandemic confining millions of people to their homes, the timing of this release is opportune. It comes at a time when videoconferencing applications like Zoom, Skype, and others are in a race to provide the best remote working experience. The standalone Messenger app offers certain clear advantages, such as the ability to have it in its own window and not having to manage multiple browser tabs. While the features of the standalone Messenger app closely resemble the web-based experience, it does provide the convenience of free, unlimited group video calls that sync seamlessly across both mobile and desktop platforms. Furthermore, standalone apps generally deliver faster performance and enhanced responsiveness compared to browser-based apps.


2020. Facebook makes Messenger for iOS faster and lighter



The latest version of Messenger for iOS has been completely rebuilt from scratch, resulting in a smaller download size and more efficient updates. This new version launches much faster than its predecessor, which is particularly beneficial for users who frequently access the app throughout the day. According to Facebook, Messenger now loads twice as quickly as the previous iOS version and is only a quarter of its original size. While some features may be temporarily unavailable due to this redesign, Facebook assures users that it is actively working to reinstate them in the near future.


2017. Facebook Messenger adds plugin for business websites



The Facebook Messenger is now expanding its reach to business websites with a new plugin. This innovative plugin enables customers to directly engage with businesses on their websites using Messenger, and seamlessly continue those conversations across various devices such as web, mobile, and tablets. By leveraging Messenger, businesses not only make themselves available on a platform with a staggering user base of approximately 1.2 billion monthly users, but they also gain access to a range of powerful features. These features include payment capabilities, natural language understanding chatbots, and support for rich media content, among other functionalities. Similar to other web chat systems, the Messenger chat plugin appears as a hovering element atop the business's web page and is easily identifiable by the familiar blue Messenger icon.


2016. Facebook Messenger gets group video calling


Recently, Facebook Messenger introduced a new feature: group video calling. This chat application now enables groups of up to six users to initiate video calls directly from their messages. The feature is now available to all users with the latest version of the app. Starting a group call is as simple as initiating a one-to-one video call within the app: by tapping the camera icon located in the top right corner while in a chat, users can begin a video call. Facebook has set a limit of six participants for group video calls, although up to 50 additional participants can join the call without enabling their video once the limit is reached. It's worth noting that Facebook's sibling app, WhatsApp, added one-to-one video calling just last month.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com