Why Meta gave its Messenger app a new Facebook-blue logo

Meta's Messenger has introduced a new logo, replacing its multicolor gradient with a solid blue color that matches Facebook's signature shade. The change is part of the company's effort to refine its designs and enhance the look and feel of its products. The new logo features a solid blue color, with secondary versions available in black and white. Some have speculated that the change was made to reflect Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's desire for more "masculine energy" or to return to the feeling of "OG Facebook." However, the change may also be seen as a reflection of the app's diminished cross-platform communications capabilities. Messenger was originally known as Facebook Chat, but was spun off into a standalone app in 2014. The app's original logo featured a light-to-dark-blue gradient, which was later changed to a multicolor gradient in 2020. The multicolor gradient was seen as a bridge between Facebook and Instagram, as Messenger allowed users to chat across both platforms. However, Meta killed the cross-platform feature in 2023, and the new logo suggests the company is focusing on linking Messenger to Facebook. The brand guide now explicitly states that "Messenger is a messaging app from Facebook," emphasizing the connection between the two platforms.