Meta has begun informing Android customers that its Messenger Lite app will quickly be shut down fully. This most likely doesn’t imply a lot within the broader scheme, and can most likely have pretty restricted impression, given the enlargement of community expertise.
As first reported by 9 to 5 Google, Messenger Lite customers on Android at the moment are seeing a brand new pop-up message within the app informing them that it is going to be sundown as of September 18th. Messenger Lite on iOS was shut down back in 2020.
As per 9 to 5 Google:
“For some, opening the app at present reveals a fullscreen “use Messenger to maintain chatting” immediate. There will probably be no impression to dialog historical past: ‘We all know your chats are essential to you, so all the pieces from Messenger Lite continues to be accessible in Messenger.‘”
So, it appears that evidently, given the development of connective networks, Meta sees little use to maintain supporting the separate Messenger Lite app, which is designed for customers with restricted machine area, and low connectivity, so as to join them into the broader Meta community.
Initially launched in 2016, Messenger Lite reached 50 million Google Play Store downloads only a yr later, underlining the demand for a lo-fi model of Meta’s messaging platform in varied areas. However six years on, and with cell adoption persevering with to rise, it appears that evidently there’s no use for the separate model of the platform anymore, with extra individuals now ready to make use of the full-functioned Messenger app to interact in digital chats.
We requested Meta in regards to the resolution, and it supplied this assertion:
“Beginning August 21, individuals utilizing the Messenger Lite app for Android will probably be directed to Messenger or FB Lite to ship and obtain messages on Messenger.”
So fairly brief on element, however Meta continues to be supporting Fb Lite as an choice, not less than in the interim.
As famous, the impression will seemingly be minimal, given the broader enlargement of extra superior choices, however it’s value noting the change in Meta’s product course.
Meta, in fact, can be seeking to cut back prices wherever it could possibly, and it might be that the lesser-used Messenger Lite is just not well worth the funding anymore.
So extra individuals will probably be on Messenger as a substitute, whereas Fb Lite might see an inflow of customers. As famous by TechCrunch, Meta can be shutting down help for SMS on Messenger subsequent month.
