Ah, the Facebook Messenger App. The app everybody apparently loves to hate. Well, why not, right? Facebook is forcing everyone to adopt the standalone mobile messaging app, so it’s natural to assume that it would invade our privacy. There’s a lot of talk over the app giving Facebook “direct control” over mobile devices. Really? Would Facebook really call phone numbers without the knowledge of its users? Would Facebook really send text messages without confirmation from its users?

No.

In fact, Facebook Messenger isn’t any more (or less) “invasive” than their main mobile app. It’s just as “invasive” as other similar apps. But I get it. It still feels weird to grant Facebook Messenger access to your camera, microphone, contacts, and more. And the fact that you’re being forced to download it – well that feels a little shady. But even so, there are some myths that need to be debunked.

For starters, you don’t have to download the Facebook Messenger app to send messages to your Facebook friends. You can simply refuse to do so, and continue messaging them the old fashioned way – via the web on your desktop or laptop. But if you insist on messaging your friends on your mobile devices, you can be a little slick about it by doing so via the Facebook mobile website. Just bookmark the site for easy access, and message away! When it comes to privacy issues, again, the terms are the same for all their mobile apps. Now I know, you must be thinking, “But why does Facebook need access to my calendar and Wi-Fi information?” Well, I can’t answer that, but I can say that most messaging apps ask for that info. Facebook just happens to be the only one facing the most heat over it.

As far as access to the microphone is concerned – look, it’s not to record you. It’s for voice calling. Yes, the standalone app offers voice calling – something that the Facebook app didn’t. You can also send videos through the app. Videos with sound. Sound that’s recorded with the microphone. And as far as access to the camera is concerned, come on really? If you want to send pics to your friends, of course you have to grant them access to the camera. But what about Facebook stating that they can edit, receive, read, and send text messages? Easy there, that’s also not as bad as it sounds. That’s just for the sake of confirmation codes sent by Facebook via text messages. That’s all. What’s left is the tracking of location. If that bothers you, you can simply turn it off.

Now sit back, open Facebook Messenger, and message “Hi” to someone you haven’t reached out to in a while.