Facebook Paper News App Goes Dark Next Month

Facebook Paper will be shut down late next month, the social network has revealed, with Facebook advising users via an in–app message that they will not be able to access the app after July 29. Though Facebook Paper had initially garnered good reviews back in 2014, it didn't draw in any significant number of users if the app download numbers are anything to go by. The writing has been on the wall for a while, though, as Facebook never got around to releasing an Android version and it last updated the iOS app in March of last year.

In Facebook Paper's place is the newer and better received Instant Articles, which make news reading on the website more comfortable by instantly loading an article. The service went live for all publishers a couple months back and has overall been a success for the social network, one that is likely far more worth its while than attempting to prop up Paper.

While the app will still remain active until July 29, it will only be available to those who have already downloaded it; the Facebook Paper offering is being pulled from the App Store presently, so no new downloads will be possible.

In its statement to users, Facebook said:

Our goal with Paper was to explore new immersive, interactive design elements for reading and interacting with content on Facebook, and we learned how important these elements are in giving people an engaging experience.

SOURCE: The Verge