No, FB Lite does not have Facebook Stories. Facebook Stories is a feature that allows users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, similar to Snapchat or Instagram Stories. This feature is not available in the stripped down, lightweight version of Facebook called Facebook Lite.
What is Facebook Lite?
Facebook Lite is a version of Facebook that has been optimized for regions and networks with slow internet speeds or data speeds. It uses less data, loads quicker, and works on all Android phones.
Some key things to know about Facebook Lite:
- It was released in 2015 and is aimed at emerging markets where internet access is limited.
- The app is less than 1MB to download compared to the main Facebook app which is over 100MB.
- It consumes less mobile data than the main Facebook app.
- It is faster to load on slower networks and older phones.
- The interface is simplified with fewer icons and options.
- Not all Facebook features are available on Lite.
Overall, Facebook Lite provides a basic, fast Facebook experience for people with limited internet access. It sacrifices some features like Stories for reduced file size and data usage.
What features are missing from Facebook Lite?
Since Facebook Lite aims to provide an efficient, minimalist Facebook experience, not all features from the main Facebook app are included. Here are some of the key features missing from Facebook Lite:
- Facebook Stories
- Augmented reality filters and effects
- Live video
- Games
- Marketplace
- Facebook Dating
- Saving videos and photos
- Downloading your Facebook information
- Customized chat themes
- Group calls in Messenger
So in summary, interactive and media-heavy features like Stories, video chat, games, and AR are not available. The focus is on core utilities like scrolling the News Feed, commenting, basic messaging, and keeping data usage low.
Why doesn’t Facebook Lite have stories?
There are a few key reasons why Facebook Stories is not included in the Lite app:
- Stories use a lot more data – Videos and photos in Stories would increase the app size and data usage, going against the goals of Facebook Lite.
- Older phones may lack camera/storage for Stories – Low-end phones in emerging markets often lack good cameras, storage space, and processors required for recording and sharing Stories.
- Keeps the app simple – Removing advanced features like Stories helps keep the interface clean and simple to use for new users.
- Less development overhead – Having fewer features allows the smaller engineering team behind Facebook Lite to focus on core functions.
So in summary, Stories are data-intensive and demanding on device hardware, so leaving them out helps the Lite app achieve its goals of being small, fast, and able to run on nearly all Android phones.
Do Facebook Lite users want stories?
There appears to be some demand among Facebook Lite users for the ability to post ephemeral photos and videos like on Stories:
- In user reviews of Facebook Lite on the Google Play Store, lack of Stories is one of the most commonly cited missing features.
- Some users ask if there are plans to add Stories to Lite in the future.
- Others mention switching back to the full Facebook app solely for access to Stories.
- However, just as many reviews praise the simplicity of Lite and load quickly as priorities over extra features.
So there is interest in Stories among some Facebook Lite users. But others seem to prefer having a stripped-down, high-performing app.
User reviews related to Stories
Here are some example user reviews from the Google Play Store highlighting desire for Stories in Facebook Lite:
| Reviewer | Review Excerpt |
| Shubham Sharma | “Please try to give stories feature in lite app.” |
| Pamela Munemo | “I really wish FBlite could add stories.” |
| Patel Bhavik | “Add stories to lite version please.” |
| Shalini Verma | “Please update the stories option too.” |
Is Facebook Stories coming to Lite in the future?
Facebook has not indicated officially whether Stories will be added to Facebook Lite at some point.
A few key insights on this:
- Back in 2018, some users reported seeing hidden files in Lite that hinted at Stories being developed.
- But there have been no announcements since then about adding Stories.
- With so few coding changes over the years, it seems unlikely Facebook would add a complex feature like Stories.
- There may be fears adding Stories would ruin the app’s lightweight, simple reputation.
Unless Facebook makes major changes under the hood, the Lite app is likely to remain Story-free. The company seems committed to keeping it a basic, no-frills Facebook experience.
Conclusion
In summary:
- No, Facebook Lite does not have Facebook Stories or any way to post ephemeral photos and videos.
- Stories are excluded from the Lite app because they use too much data and device resources.
- Some Lite users want the ability to post Stories, but others appreciate the simplicity.
- It’s unlikely Facebook will add Stories to Lite given their commitment to keeping it lightweight.
The streamlined nature of Facebook Lite means missing out on some features. But for many users, having a fast and data-efficient experience is more important than extras like Stories. Unless Facebook makes major changes under the hood, Lite seems likely to remain focused on core utilities.