Facebook is the largest, most populous social media platform of all time. Launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, the platform’s immediate rise to fame has not been easy. It has gone through lawsuits and scandals just like any other platform. Zuckerberg founded Thefacebook in 2004 when he was still a Harvard student. Initially, only the users with a Harvard email address were allowed on the site, where students could share their photos and connect with other Harvard students. This was partly to create exclusivity and suspense among those who couldn’t join it yet.
He then slowly opened the site to Ivy League college students and then to high schoolers worldwide. While this was happening, Zuckerberg was sued by three friends from Harvard; they claimed Mark stole their idea and built upon it. All three in the suing party were paid $1.2 million as a settlement.
Finally, in 2006, The Facebook, now simply Facebook, was open to the rest of the world. Well, anyone above 13 and with a valid email address. This was just the beginning of the platform’s long history filled with surprises, gossip, fame, hate, and much more.
In August 2011, Facebook Messenger was launched as a place where users could message each other and send funny GIFs, media, and much more. All you need is to tap on the small Messenger icon at the top right corner to go to your chats. Seeing how it was launched when Facebook was at its peak with no competition, it was a total success.
Seeing the feature’s success, Facebook launched Messenger as a separate app outside of the Facebook app. As we all know today, Messenger is still among the top social media messaging services of all time. It’s quick, convenient, and fun all at once.
However, just creating an app simply won’t do, will it? Users always want an incentive to go out of their way and download an app. Zuckerberg realized this and worked hard to give an incentive to the users.
The Messenger app today comes equipped with an option to audio or video call your friends! You can change the theme of your chat, control the notifications from a particular user, and create a group with all your friends in it.
Of course, security was not neglected in this renovation. You can block, report, or restrict any user who acts creepily or inappropriately toward you.
In today’s blog, we’ll discuss why Facebook Messenger shows that you’re active, even when you’re not. Stay with us until this blog’s end to learn all about it!
Why Does Facebook Messenger Show Active When You’re Not?
If you use Facebook Messenger, you might’ve encountered this flaw: your friends seem to think you’re active and ignoring their messages, even when you’re not. Don’t worry; we know you’re not the one at fault here.
Like most apps on your smartphone, Facebook Messenger keeps running in the background if you just close it but don’t remove it from your Recents tab. We know how confusing it sounds, but you can’t do much about this feature because it’s often helpful.
For example, let’s say you’re downloading something on Google, Netflix, or YouTube. Instead of just watching it download, you often move to other apps until the downloading is done, right? How do you think that works?
Yep, you guessed it correctly. The app runs in the background while you use a different app. So, now you understand that it isn’t an error but a deliberate feature. What can you do about it, so your friends don’t get hurt?
Well, from the looks of it, you’ve got four options. Firstly, you could tell your friends how this works and that it’s not your fault.
Or, instead of going through all that trouble to explain something stupid like this to your friends, you could simply remove Messenger from your Recent tab after using it.
Maybe you really shouldn’t care about what people think. It’s not wise to care about what everyone thinks. Your true friends know you won’t ignore them unless you’re busy, right?
Lastly, you could turn off your active status on Messenger. This way, even if you deliberately ignore your friends, they’ll never find out about it! However, there’s always a catch. If you activate this feature, you also won’t be able to see if your friends are active, even if they haven’t deactivated their Active status.
If this sounds like something that’ll work for you, great!
Here’s how to turn off the Active status on Messenger
Step 1: Launch Messenger on your smartphone and log in to your account.
Step 2: The first page you’ll land on is your Chats page. At the top left corner of that page, you’ll see your Facebook profile picture icon. Tap on that.
Step 3: This will bring you over to your Messenger settings. Under the Profile heading, you’ll see an option called Active Status. Tap on it.
Step 4: On the next page, you’ll only see one option called Show when you’re active with a toggle button right next to it. By default, it is turned on. Just turn it off, and you’re good to go!
Let’s now discuss another important setting on Messenger: blocking a user. It can get pretty annoying when you meet someone new on the platform, talk to them, and find out they’re not who you thought they were. Well, don’t worry. You can always remove them from your network in just a minute.
Here’s how you can block someone on Facebook Messenger
Step 1: Launch Messenger on your smartphone and log in to your account.
Step 2: Tap on your chats with the person you wish to block.
Step 3: Located at the top right side of their chats, will be an ‘i’ icon. Tap on that. This will bring you over to their Chat settings.
Step 4: Scroll down to the last section on that page, Privacy and support. Under that, tap on the second option called Block.
Step 5: On the next page, you’ll get two options: Block messages and calls or Block on Facebook. Choose whichever alternative works for you, and you’re good to go!
In the end
As we end this blog, let’s recap all we’ve discussed today.
Facebook Messenger is among the most popular social media messaging services. If you think you’ve been experiencing a glitch for some time now, there’s a chance that it’s an intentional feature that you’re mistaking for a glitch.
For example, if you think Facebook Messenger is showing you’re active even when you’re not, it just means that the app is working in the background. There are four solutions to this problem, and we’ve discussed all of them today.
Next, we’ve also discussed how you can block someone on the platform, just in case you feel mistreated by a user.
If our blog has helped you, don’t forget to tell us all about it in the comments below!
Also Read: