Good news Facebook announced Rollbacks on most of their feature that we lost due to EU policy changes. You can read more about that here. https://help.segmate.io/article/76-updated-eu-privacy-changes-to-messenger-api-and-segmate

Files and Media Attachments


Audios such as MP3 and WAV and files such as PDF, PPT, PPTX, PPTM, DOC, DOCX, DOCM, and ZIP will be restricted for both users and subscribers but sending and receiving images will not be affected by the December 16 EU changes. So if you need to share a file with your leads you may upload the files in Google Drive or Dropbox or any similar site and link it to a button. You may also link videos using an external host like Youtube.


3.24.21 UPDATE: 

We will now allow you to upload Videos, Audio, and FIles. They will not play in Messenger but we will host them on our end with clickable links where they will play or download.


Here is an example of what that looks like:


This is something that only affects the EU user base. If you are concerned about your area. You can check out this link https://help.segmate.io/article/73-facebook-eu-privacy-changes-to-messenger-api-and-segmate

OTN’s (One Time Notifications)

  

Collecting and delivering One Time Notifications won’t operate anymore, In addition, OTN’s that you will utilize after December 16 and even all OTN’s that were collected prior to December 16 will not be available anymore. 


Persistent Menu


Persistent Menu won’t be visible within Facebook Messenger starting 16th of December to subscribers. Use may use the keyword menu to show the persistent menu options as messages with quick replies.


Custom Audiences


The restriction of building Custom Audiences has already started since the 16th of November 2020 but since this limitation is related to Facebook Messenger it was highlighted again by Facebook. 


Preview Button and Checkbox Plugin


Our preview function allows users to view their chatbot on Facebook but starting December 16 if your page is within the affected areas impacted by the EU change this function won’t be available for you anymore. This goes to as well as to our Checkbox Plugin feature. Our Checkbox plugin can be linked to a certain website and whenever a customer clicks the button on that plugin we can create an engagement that could turn website visitors into subscribers. 


Delay Typing


This element that is designed to make our subscribers feel they are interacting with a human during a chat conversation won’t be available to affected areas of the EU change starting 16th of December.


SegMate will no longer be able to notify you if your page is under some kind of violation with Facebook


Due to these restrictions, SegMate won't be able to notify us regarding some violations. So be sure to check your Facebook inbox regularly as the notification will only be available there.


Go to your Facebook Page Settings then scroll down and look for Page Support Inbox


SegMate Features with Minor Limitations


Automation Rules


Automation Rules allow you to apply actions to your subscribers based on specific triggers. However, starting December 16 this feature won’t trigger the right flow or any automation that you have set.


Below are features that are believed not to trigger automation.


  • M.me links

  • QR Codes

  • Preview Button

  • Checkbox Plugin


SegMate Features with No Limitations

  • Keyword

  • Quick Replies

  • Welcome Message

  • Message Tags


What you can do?


Always check our Knowledge Base

https://help.segmate.io/


Check your Facebook Admin


If any of your page admins are located in Europe, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and United Kingdom, your subscribers' interaction with the bots will be subject to EU policy whether they are in the EU or not. To get rid of this restriction remove your page admin who is located in the EU, If necessary.


Facebook Page > Page Settings > Page Roles.


Go to Existing Page Roles

Then, click on one of the Admins and click Edit then Remove and Save 



SegMate will no longer be able to notify you if your page is under some kind of violation with Facebook


Due to these restrictions, SegMate won't be able to notify us regarding some violations. So be sure to check your Facebook inbox regularly as the notification will only be available there.


Go to your Facebook Page Settings then scroll down and look for Page Support Inbox.


Utilize your Welcome Message wisely


As automation is believed not to function normally you may want to maximize your welcome message as a list of options that can drive our users to the right automation.


Create separate flows for mobile/EU users


Ask your subscribers at the start of the bot, If they are on mobile or web client. Make separate flows according to their selection and use quick replies so, they can be visible to either of them. An example can be shown


Persistent Menu Alternative


Leverage keywords automation in your bot. Create a menu keyword to show the persistent menu options as messages to your subscribers. Because, After the 16th December persistent menu will be disabled for all EU users. Also, you might want to consider transferring all of your important Flow’s buttons to Quick Replies.


Default Reply


As using quick replies and utilizing keywords are recommended, it is also advised to also check your default reply and make sure it is set to trigger correctly.  


What SegMate will do?

Send Alternate messages for affected elements


Audio, Video, and File


SegMate will send simple text element with a link to the media, For example:

When you send an Audio file to a subscriber, SegMate will convert it into the text form as shown in the image. An example screenshot of the audio file

 

Card and Gallery


Work in progress


Menu Keyword Bot


We can create a bot according to persistent menu options for each user