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If you ask 10 different people which social media app is the one worth deleting in order to preserve their battery and retain their privacy and data, you’re going to get a number of different answers. For some, TikTok is the ultimate risk without much reward in return. For others, Facebook is an obvious drain, but the ability to connect to people from their past makes it worth the risk. With that in mind, there are usually a few apps that surface time and again when experts weigh in on social media — including this one that may be flying under the radar where privacy is concerned. According to many tech experts, this is the social media app you need to delete right now because it’s doing damage to your phone AND neglecting to make your privacy a priority.
Facebook Messenger
The Facebook app hogs most of the glory — and criticism — when it comes to social media apps that tech experts say are no good for your phone. But experts like William Cannon, Founder of Uplead, go as far as calling the Facebook Messenger app “the ultimate privacy feeder” because of some major downsides that aren’t immediately apparent or as publicized as the ones you hear about Facebook.
Choose A Dark Theme
“Choose a dark theme for your smartphone to reduce the strain on energy pixels as they use a lot of phone charge,” Chan says. “Darker colors use less energy compared to brighter colors. Phone themes are by default installed in the phone, and one can adjust by going to settings, then tap Display and Brightness, and Select Dark to turn on Dark Mode.”
But privacy isn’t the only issue when it comes to Facebook Messenger. If you’ve noticed your battery draining twice as fast when you use the app, it’s not your imagination. Cannon adds that the following battery drainage issues are also a major concern:
**Facebook messenger keeps sucking battery even in idle mode
**Facebook messenger exploits a lot of CPU and battery power combined when sending multimedia files
**Facebook messenger, combined with the Facebook app, puts extra strain by sharing data with its servers, even the ones that are unnecessary
Tony Kelly, Founder & CEO at CameraGroove, agrees that Facebook Messenger is a problematic app, but if the news has you feeling anxious (how will you conveniently field all of the messages you get from friends?) Kelly also offers an alternative.
“Facebook Messenger, like its parent app, drains batteries, and it all comes down to what's going on in the background,” Kelly says. “This messaging software drains the most power by syncing contacts and push notifications, but you can't send messages over Facebook without it (or using the desktop version of Facebook). Fortunately, there's an app that can assist. Install the Messenger Lite software, which allows you to send messages over Facebook without draining your power. It's a fantastic Facebook Messenger substitute.”
