Meta will kill Messenger Lite, the messaging app that sought to provide a great experience on low-cost mobile phones and slow connections. The app no longer appears in Google Play search and is available only to those who have already downloaded it, though not for long.
Technology confirmed TechCrunch What Messenger Lite will disappear on September 18th. “Starting August 21, people using the Messenger Lite app for Android will be redirected to Messenger or FB Lite to send and receive messages,” a Meta spokesperson said.
For now, users can ignore the warning and get access to Messenger Lite. However, after September 18, the only alternative for those who wish to maintain a lightweight user experience will be facebook lite. Those with no performance or connectivity issues can download the full version of Facebook or Messenger.
The Messenger Lite end of support plan is part of a new meta strategy. Gone are the days when Mark Zuckerberg dreamed Messenger as the best way to messaging on mobile devices. A few months ago, the tech giant announced that messages would be returning to the Facebook app to make things easier.
Messenger Lite is no longer a priority for Meta
Messenger Lite launched in 2016 as an alternative for users in developing countries. Google, Meta, Twitter and other companies have realized the importance of the proposal Basic applications for those who did not have a mobile phone of the latest generation or take care of your data plan.
It’s no secret that Facebook or Messenger consume a lot of resources and they are enemies of the mobile battery. The “Lite” versions lack padding features and reduce the file size to a minimum. In some cases, the experience is similar to what we get in a mobile browser.
Since launch eight years ago Facebook Lite’s popularity has declined much. Facebook has become a “senior” app, and the most obvious proof of this is the explosion of Instagram or TikTok. According to data from ApptopiaInstagram Lite and TikTok Lite are among the top 10 downloads on Google Play in countries like Brazil and Argentina.
The ability to send messages to your Facebook or Instagram contacts has made Messenger less important. On top of that, Meta is focused on implementing new features in WhatsApp or Threads, so your classic messaging client has been downgraded.
The end of Messenger Lite may mean little or nothing to those who oppose the idea of app separation, a fad that has become all too common over the past decade.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
