While Facebook's Android apps aren't the best way to use the app on a smartphone, many third-party apps have emerged over the years, offering users better interfaces, smaller and faster options, and generally improving the user experience.
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However, now Facebook is forcing two popular apps for its website, Swipe and Simple Social , to leave, as they have disappeared from the Play Store.
According to messages from the developers of both apps, Facebook has taken legal action against several apps that offer an alternative way to access the network, beyond its official apps and mobile website.
Forcing a developer to shut down an app that has been popular for years is bad enough, and Facebook's goal seems to be to end all third-party tools for accessing its site.
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The developer of Simple Social, another popular Facebook “wrapper” app, had an even more worrying message for users, informing them that those who continue to use the app after it was removed from the Play Store do so at their own risk and may have their Facebook account temporarily or even permanently disabled.
The apps appear to still be functional if they're already installed on your device. However, with no support from developers and Facebook's seemingly active efforts to shut down third-party access methods, there's no guarantee how long these apps will continue to work.
Apps that simply access Facebook may not have to comply with its developer terms. A web browser doesn't have to comply with Facebook's rules just to display its page. But presenting an app as a means of accessing Facebook, even if it makes it clear that it's a third-party developer and not represented by Facebook, could put it in the company's crosshairs.
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Facebook doesn't seem to be going after all the wrapper apps on the Play Store, at least not yet. There are similar alternatives, like Faster for Facebook and Phoenix. However, other alternatives, like Swift and Tinfoil, have disappeared. It's still unclear whether the missing apps were targeted or why some of them are still active.
Simple Social and Swipe for Facebook are still functional for users who already have them on their phones or tablets, and the apps themselves can still be downloaded from APK Mirror and sideloaded on Android.
