Messenger is one of the most popular messaging platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. On Messenger, you can chat with friends, family, co-workers, businesses, and more. In addition to chatting with real people, you may also receive messages from bots – automated accounts that can hold conversations and provide services to users. But can bots really message you first on Messenger, and if so, why?
What are bots on Messenger?
Bots are automated accounts on Messenger that can respond to messages, provide information, play games, make recommendations and more. Bots are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and can have conversations without human input after being programmed.
Some examples of bots on Messenger include:
– Customer service bots that can answer frequently asked questions or handle common requests.
– Shopping bots that can provide product recommendations or process orders.
– Entertainment bots that play trivia or other games.
– News bots that send personalized headlines.
– Personal assistant bots that give information on request, like weather, traffic, or nearby restaurants.
While bots may seem like real people when you’re conversing with them, they are just computer programs designed to simulate human conversation. The ability to message users directly allows bots to provide more helpful services and information.
Can bots message you first?
Yes, bots are able to send the first message on Messenger without the user interacting with them first. This allows bots to proactively provide information or connect with users.
There are a few ways bots can initiate conversations:
1. Through a Messenger code:
Businesses and developers can create Messenger codes that allow users to easily connect with a bot. When you scan a Messenger code, it automatically opens a conversation with the associated bot. This allows the bot to send you the first message and greeting.
2. By messaging users directly:
Bots can directly initiate conversations with users that have not interacted with the bot before. However, there are restrictions – bots can only message users 24 hours after they’ve had a conversation with that user’s Facebook account. This prevents spam and unwelcome messages.
3. If you message the bot first:
Even if a bot can’t message you proactively, you can initiate a conversation with them. Search for their name on Messenger or visit their Facebook page to find their “Message” button. Once you’ve messaged them, they can continue the conversation and respond.
So in summary – yes, bots can send the first message through methods like Messenger codes or under certain conditions. But they can’t spam users with unsolicited messages. Their ability to start conversations helps provide better services.
Why can bots message first?
There are a few key reasons why Messenger allows bots to message users first:
1. To provide helpful information: Bots can proactively give users timely notifications, reminders, alerts, and other details they may find useful. For example, a travel bot could message you your upcoming flight details.
2. To deliver more personalized, engaging experiences: By messaging first, bots can reference previous conversations and understand context to craft more tailored messages. This creates a more natural chatting experience.
3. To drive product sales: Sales bots can initiate conversations to promote deals, new products, or limited-time offers. Their ability to message first makes it easier to notify potential customers.
4. To increase user engagement: Messaging users directly allows bots to re-engage inactive users and encourage more conversations. This improves user retention for brands using bots.
5. To stand out: Sending the first message allows bots to grab user attention in Messenger’s competitive landscape. This gives them a better chance of providing their services.
So in summary, enabling bots to initiate conversations ultimately improves the services they can provide and creates a more useful, engaging experience. Brands have an incentive to maximize their bot’s messaging capabilities.
What are the rules around bots messaging first?
Facebook and Messenger do set certain rules and restrictions around bots messaging users first:
– User consent: Bots cannot simply message any user without consent. You must have some existing relationship, like messaging the bot first or scanning its Messenger code.
– 24 hour rule: As mentioned, bots can only message users first if there was an interaction between that user and bot’s associated Facebook page in the past 24 hours. This prevents spam.
– Relevance: Bots messages must be relevant to previous conversations and information exchanges. Irrelevant messages are not allowed.
– Identification: Bots must identify themselves in the initial message so users understand they are conversing with an automated account.
– Easy opt-out: Users must be able to easily block or opt-out from a bot messaging them further. This prevents unwanted spam.
– No sensitive content: Bots cannot send harmful, offensive, or dangerous content that violates platform policies in their initiating messages.
– Updates only: Bots are mostly limited to sending update messages, like account notices or purchase confirmations. Hard selling is restricted in initial outreach.
In addition, Facebook reviews bots to ensure they comply with all policies and provide a good user experience. Bots that spam or abuse messaging privileges may be blocked or disabled.
Should you be concerned about bots messaging you?
In general, there is no need to be concerned about receiving bot messages on Messenger. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
– The majority of bots are harmless and provide useful services, information, or entertainment. They must follow Facebook guidelines.
– You have control over what bots can message you based on the pages you interact with and whether you initiate contact first.
– You can easily block any bot that messages you. This will prevent all future messages.
– Reporting spammy or abusive bots will get them removed from Messenger.
– Legitimate bots identify themselves so you understand they are not human.
– Facebook has requirements around message relevance and consent to prevent spam.
However, as with any platform, it’s always smart to be vigilant about sharing personal information with bots you don’t know and to report any concerning behavior. But overall, most Messenger bots aim to provide value, not spam users.
Best practices for interacting with Messenger bots
If you want to enjoy positive experiences with Messenger bots, keep these tips in mind:
– Scan Messenger codes thoughtfully: Only scan a code if you trust the associated bot or brand. This allows them to message first.
– Talk to familiar brands: Stick to bots from known companies and organizations to avoid scams.
– Look for identifiers: Legitimate bots will identify themselves as automated accounts.
– Mind personal info: Be wary sharing sensitive data like credit card details with any bot.
– Customize notifications: Adjust a bot’s messaging permissions if you don’t want to receive too many notifications.
– Ask for help: Most bots can connect you with a human representative if you need additional assistance.
– Provide feedback: Brands need user feedback to improve their bots. Let them know if a bot is lacking.
– Make it a two-way conversation: Have a genuine exchange and avoid one-word responses to get the most value.
– Say stop: If a bot is ever spammy or abusive, block it and report the behavior to Facebook.
Following these tips will help ensure you have great experiences talking to the bots that message you first on Messenger!
Examples of popular Messenger bots
Here are some examples of widely-used Messenger bots across different categories:
Shopping:
– Sephora – Provides beauty tips and lets you book in-store services.
– Everlane – Shares clothing launches and lets you browse collections.
– Harry’s – Offers shaving supplies and subscription orders.
Entertainment:
– Netflix – Suggests shows to watch based on your interests.
– Spotify – Enables sharing music and playlists.
– YouTube – Lets you search videos and get recommendations.
Services:
– Uber – Books rides and provides ETAs, fare estimates.
– HSBC – Checks account balances and transaction history.
– CNN – Sends latest breaking news notifications.
Games:
– Words with Friends – Find players and start word game sessions.
– Moviepass – Provides movie trivia quizzes and showtimes.
– Taboo – Chatbot version of the Taboo party game.
Personal Assistants:
– Andi by Toni – Provides a girl chat companion.
– Insight Timer – Helps with guided meditation.
– Astro – Generates astrology readings.
There are thousands of bots across many categories that offer useful and entertaining services through Messenger. The ability for bots to message first improves the user experience and provides more value.
The future of bots messaging users first
It’s likely that bots messaging users directly will become an even more prominent part of the Messenger experience going forward. Here are some potential developments:
– More intuitive bots: With advances in AI, expect bots to become smarter and conversations more natural.
– Increased personalization: Bots will leverage data to tailor messaging and recommendations to each user.
– Expanded use cases: Bots could move into new utility areas like travel planning, job search, tutoring, and more.
– Tighter platform integration: Messaging capabilities may integrate further with Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook ads.
– New commerce abilities: Shopping bots will likely gain more messaging commerce features, like order tracking.
– Stronger relationships: Brands will focus on using bots to build relationships with customers, not just push promotions.
While there will always be rules to prevent spam and abuse, messaging users directly creates opportunities for bots to deliver more helpful, personalized experiences. Brands that leverage bots well could see higher engagement and sales. But users will ultimately benefit the most from more useful bot interactions.
Conclusion
Bots are able to send the first message to users on Messenger under certain conditions, such as using Messenger codes or through recent interactions with the associated Facebook page. Brands leverage messaging abilities to provide better services, notifications, and personalization powered by AI. While you should be thoughtful about permissions and data sharing, most bots aim to be helpful, not spammy. As bot technology keeps advancing, expect more direct messaging in the future that makes conversations feel more natural and useful.