Meta has begun informing Android customers that its Messenger Lite app will quickly be shut down utterly. This most likely doesn’t imply a lot within the broader scheme, and can most likely have pretty restricted affect, given the growth of community know-how.
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 will probably 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 shall be no affect to dialog historical past: ‘We all know your chats are essential to you, so every part from Messenger Lite remains to be out there in Messenger.‘”
So, 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 gadget house, and low connectivity, with a purpose 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 numerous areas. However six years on, and with cell adoption persevering with to rise, evidently there’s no need for the separate model of the platform anymore, with extra folks now in a position to make use of the full-functioned Messenger app to have interaction in digital chats.
We requested Meta in regards to the choice, and it offered this assertion:
“Beginning August 21, folks utilizing the Messenger Lite app for Android shall be directed to Messenger or FB Lite to ship and obtain messages on Messenger.”
So fairly quick on element, however Meta remains to be supporting Fb Lite as an possibility, a minimum of in the meanwhile.
As famous, the affect will doubtless be minimal, given the broader growth of extra superior choices, however it’s value noting the change in Meta’s product course.
Meta, in fact, can also be seeking to cut back prices wherever it may well, and it might be that the lesser-used Messenger Lite is solely not well worth the funding anymore.
So extra folks 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.
