Over the past week, the internet has been buzzing about the requirement that you will need to download Facebook's messenger app if you want to continue sending messages through Facebook.
The Huffington Post wrote an article (an old one at that) and then a Houston Radio Station wrote a new article talking about the new fine print of it's terms and conditions that the messenger app will require access to your device's camera, microphone, list of contacts and other information. This mass hysteria has caused the Facebook Messenger app to receive a 1-Star rating.
Other reputable news sources are telling the tech world to ignore the original postings. You can't always believe what's on the internet!
In short, they all say that the Facebook messenger app isn't any more intrusive than Facebook's main app or other similar apps that everyone has used all along and have agreed to their terms and conditions. If you've installed Facebook main app last year, you've agreed to these permissions already, a year ago.
While the list of the app permissions sounds scary, that doesn't mean Facebook is out to spy on you. The articles were posted to scare you and since the articles went viral, mission accomplished.
Facebook is not out to spy on you. Whether you use Facebook on your phone or PC, they already know a lot about you. Same goes for Google, Yahoo, MSN, Hotmail, and every other site you use. These permissions are no different then anything you've used on the web for the past 10 years. Google records what you search on, your email provider keeps all emails you send and receive, whether you delete them ore not.
In closing, don't feed into the hysteria of the Facebook Messenger app.
Link to a reputable source explaining why you shouldn't freak out and a break down of each setting and why it needs access
http://mashable.com/2014/08/11/stop-freaking-out-about-facebook-messenger-app-permissions/