Meta has begun informing Android customers that its Messenger Lite app will quickly be shut down utterly. This in all probability doesn’t imply a lot within the broader scheme, and can in all probability have pretty restricted affect, given the growth of community expertise.
As first reported by 9 to five Google, Messenger Lite customers on Android at the moment are seeing a brand new pop-up message within the app informing them that it will likely be sundown as of September 18th. Messenger Lite on iOS was shut down again in 2020.
As per 9 to five Google:
“For some, opening the app at present reveals a fullscreen “use Messenger to maintain chatting” immediate. There shall be no affect to dialog historical past: ‘We all know your chats are vital to you, so every little thing from Messenger Lite remains to be obtainable in Messenger.‘”
So, plainly, 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 system house, and low connectivity, so as to join them into the broader Meta community.
Initially launched in 2016, Messenger Lite reached 50 million Google Play Retailer downloads only a 12 months later, underlining the demand for a lo-fi model of Meta’s messaging platform in varied areas. However six years on, and with cellular adoption persevering with to rise, plainly there’s no need for the separate model of the platform anymore, with extra individuals now in a position to make use of the full-functioned Messenger app to interact in digital chats.
We requested Meta in regards to the choice, and it supplied this assertion:
“Beginning August 21, individuals utilizing the Messenger Lite app for Android shall be directed to Messenger or FB Lite to ship and obtain messages on Messenger.”
So fairly brief on element, however Meta remains to be supporting Fb Lite as an choice, no less than in the intervening time.
As famous, the affect will probably be minimal, given the broader growth of extra superior choices, however it’s price noting the change in Meta’s product route.
Meta, in fact, can also be seeking to scale back prices wherever it will possibly, and it might be that the lesser-used Messenger Lite is just not well worth the funding anymore.
So extra individuals shall be on Messenger as an alternative, whereas Fb Lite might see an inflow of customers. As famous by TechCrunch, Meta can also be shutting down assist for SMS on Messenger subsequent month.
