Why Mark Zuckerberg plans to merge WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to integrate the services offered by WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger under a single underlying messaging platform, in order to allow users to easily communicate, the New York Times reported on Friday.

According to the report, once the integration is complete, the merger would mean that a Facebook user could communicate directly with someone who only has a WhatsApp account.

This move is set to bring together 3 of the top 5 apps downloaded in 2018 on the App Store and Play Store. Facebook Messenger was the most downloaded app in the world in 2018 followed by Facebook and WhatsApp. Tik Tok occupied the 4th spot and Instagram rounded off the top 5 spots. Facebook plans to complete this integration by the end of this year or early 2020.

Earlier this month, WhatsApp globally limited message 'forwards' to five chats at a time, a practice it had introduced in India in July last year to crack down on spread of rumours and fake news through its platform.

With India happening to be WhatsApp’s largest global market with over 200 million users, it would be interesting to see how the users will react and use this integrated service.