In a statement released by Meta, the company said that it had planned to unify Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger so that users could communicate with people on other platforms from a single app. However, the company has now decided to end that effort.

The cross-messaging feature was first introduced between Instagram and Messenger in 2020, but it will be discontinued in mid-December 2023.

Meta has not given a reason for the decision to end the cross-messaging feature. However, a report by 9to5Google suggests that it may be due to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The DMA requires tech companies to allow users to easily move their data between different platforms. This could make it difficult for Meta to maintain the cross-messaging feature, as it would require the company to share data between its different platforms.

The end of the cross-messaging feature will be a disappointment for many users who have come to rely on it to communicate with friends and family on different platforms. However, it is unclear what the impact of the decision will be on Meta’s other messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp and Messenger.