The core Facebook platform can be utilized independently of its dedicated messaging application. Users can access the social network’s features, such as browsing news feeds, viewing profiles, joining groups, and interacting with posts, without installing or using the separate application designed for instant messaging.
This separation offers several advantages, including conserving device storage space, minimizing data usage, and reducing background processes that can impact battery life. Historically, messaging functionality was integrated directly within the main Facebook application. The decision to split messaging into a separate application was intended to streamline the user experience and provide a dedicated platform for real-time communication features.