iWorld
Meta shutters standalone Messenger website from April 2026
Desktop chats redirect to facebook.com/messages, mobile app remains unaffected for web-independent users.
MUMBAI: Messenger’s web independence is signing off proving that even in the digital age, some chats just can’t escape the Facebook family reunion. Meta has confirmed it will pull the plug on messenger.com as a standalone site starting April 2026, automatically redirecting desktop visitors to facebook.com/messages to keep conversations flowing. The update, posted on the company’s help pages and first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, comes with pop-up notifications on both the Messenger site and app.
The change follows Meta’s earlier retirement of the dedicated Messenger desktop apps for Windows and Mac, which already funnelled users to Facebook’s web interface. For those who’ve deactivated their Facebook accounts but still use Messenger via browser, the move shrinks options further leaving only the mobile app as a lifeline. Chat history stays safe through the secure backup PIN process (with a reset option if forgotten), but web access without a Facebook login is effectively over.
This is the latest twist in Messenger’s long identity crisis. Born as Facebook Chat in 2008, it spun off into a standalone app in 2011 and got fully separated from the main Facebook mobile app in 2014 to boost its own adoption. Yet the pendulum has swung back, since 2023, Facebook has been quietly reintegrating Messenger features into its core platform, slowly dissolving the walls between the two.
Meta frames the shift as a streamlining move consolidating messaging under one roof to simplify infrastructure and user experience. But for the corner of users who preferred Messenger’s lighter, less Facebook-tied web version, it’s a step that feels more like consolidation than convenience.
Whether you’re a die-hard desktop chatter or just someone who logs in occasionally, the message is clear: in Meta’s world, going solo online is becoming a relic. From April 2026, if you’re on a computer, expect the redirect and perhaps a gentle nudge back toward the full Facebook fold.
iWorld
Master app launches exclusive cricket series for IPL
Eloelo platform teams with Tanay Tiwari for Cricket Stories and 200 plus match analysis in IPL
MUMBAI: Master has just bowled a perfect yorker at cricket fans this IPL turning match days into bite-sized masterclasses of inspiration. Eloelo Group’s popular microlearning and infotainment app has expanded its content slate with exclusive cricket programming. It has teamed up with leading content creator and sports presenter Tanay Tiwari to launch the special series “Cricket Stories With Tanay”, alongside a dedicated cricket section featuring over 200 content pieces on daily match analysis, news and updates produced by a team of sports experts and creators.
The new series offers a deep dive into previously unheard inspirational tales from the world of cricket from the history and personal journeys of iconic players to remarkable stories of courage and motivation. The opening episode explores untold stories from Sachin Tendulkar’s life and his role as mentor to many young cricketers. The second episode spotlights Yuvraj Singh’s mentoring influence on stars such as Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Master already hosts more than 2,000 courses on subjects ranging from banking and finance to devotion and Indian history, making it one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in India on Google’s Android Play Store. The fresh cricket focus is designed to engage its fast-growing audience of curious learners during the high-energy IPL season.
In the coming months, Master will expand into newer languages and introduce additional courses and features, enabling Bharat users to learn on-the-go in their own language and at their own pace.
From Tendulkar’s masterclass moments to Yuvraj’s legacy of guidance, the app is transforming cricket into quick, compelling wisdom. With boundaries being hit on the field and stories being served on screen, Master is proving that the best way to enjoy the IPL is with a side of real-life inspiration, all in the palm of your hand.
