This Will End Well: Facebook Will Let You Download Android Apps Via Ads
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
tl; Dr.
- Meta will allow European users to download Android apps directly through Facebook ads.
- Later this year, the company will launch a pilot program with select developers.
- There are several reasons why we are skeptical about Android apps hosted on Facebook.
Meta already owns the world's largest social network, Facebook, along with giants such as WhatsApp, Oculus and Instagram. Now it looks like the company wants to participate in the promotion in the App Store.
The Verge reports that Meta is working on plans to allow users in the European Union to download Android apps through Facebook ads. The newspaper reported that the pilot program will begin later this year with a small number of developers.
Meta is believed to be taking this approach because of the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which effectively forces Apple and Google to allow alternative app stores on their mobile platforms.
Meta stated that app developers hosting their apps on Facebook will see higher conversion rates for their ads than ads linked to the Play Store. It is also believed that Meta will not stop in-app purchases along this route for the time being. Perhaps the company will gain weight if many developers sign up, and the solution will be popular among users.
However, we are not sure that Meta's solution will appeal to users. First, we're not sure if Play Store-related ads really bother consumers. On smartphones, this process is almost invisible, as you can install the app through the Play Store and then switch to Facebook.
Another concern is that if the company opens up this feature to everyone, people could fall for dangerous apps that pose as well-known names in these ads. After all, there is no shortage of people who fall victim to disinformation on the platform.
Do you download apps directly from Facebook?
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Facebook can also bypass the Play Store to automatically update the Android app, so we're wondering if apps installed via Facebook ads have the same functionality. This can become a problem if the developer decides to make unwanted changes to the application, or if a previously valid application was sold to a dubious party.
It's also worth noting that the Play Store has some privacy and security features. These include Google Play Protect for malware detection, a list of data collected by a particular app, and a list of security measures for each app. Several other third-party app stores also have privacy and security measures in place, but nothing is known about Meta's features in this regard.
