Facebook Lite is an official, lightweight version of Facebook’s mobile app designed for areas with limited bandwidth or slower networks. It was launched by Facebook in 2015 and is available on Android devices in over 170 countries. While not as feature-rich as the main Facebook app, Facebook Lite provides the core Facebook experience in a smaller app footprint.
Key Facts About Facebook Lite
- Launched in 2015
- Official Facebook product
- Designed for slower networks and low-end devices
- Less than 1MB download size
- Supports Android devices
- Available in over 170 countries
- Provides core Facebook features like News Feed, profiles, posts, photos, messages, notifications
- Requires less data usage than full Facebook app
So in summary, yes, Facebook Lite is an official product developed and maintained by Facebook itself. It is not a third-party app or “fake” version of Facebook.
Differences Between Facebook and Facebook Lite
While Facebook Lite provides the main Facebook features, there are some differences compared to the full Facebook app:
| Facebook Lite | |
|---|---|
| Larger app size (100+ MB) | Small app size ( |
| More features and options | Streamlined, basic features |
| Heavier data usage | Data-saving mode to reduce usage |
| Supports iOS and Android | Android only currently |
| Required updates frequently | Less frequent updates required |
Some key features missing from Facebook Lite include:
- Facebook Live video
- Camera features and filters
- Games, apps and bots
- Interests section on profiles
- Augmented reality camera effects
However, the core activities like viewing the News Feed, commenting on posts, messaging friends, and sharing photos and videos are available.
Reasons Facebook Created Facebook Lite
Facebook designed Facebook Lite to broaden its global usage and reach new users in emerging markets where smartphone data plans are expensive and internet connectivity is sparse. Some of the factors that motivated Facebook to develop a lightweight app include:
- Slower networks: Many areas especially in developing countries lack 4G and broadband infrastructure. Facebook Lite works better on 2G and 3G networks.
- Data cost: Mobile data rates in some countries can be prohibitive for poorer citizens. Facebook Lite uses less data to help manage costs.
- Affordability: Lower-end, less expensive Android phones are more common globally. Facebook Lite supports these devices with lower memory and storage requirements.
- Growth opportunities: Lite app allows Facebook to attract users who otherwise couldn’t use full Facebook app reliably.
Essentially, Facebook Lite removes some barriers to accessing Facebook services on slower networks with less capable devices. This allows more people globally to use the platform.
Countries Where Facebook Lite is Available
As of October 2022, Facebook Lite is available through the Google Play store in over 170 countries worldwide. Some of the major countries include:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Ethiopia
- India
- Indonesia
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Turkey
- Vietnam
The app is focused on emerging markets, particularly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. However, it is also available in more developed countries as an alternative choice for the full Facebook app.
User Statistics for Facebook Lite
As of September 2022, Facebook reported that Facebook Lite has over 1 billion monthly active users globally. This makes it one of Facebook’s largest apps by user base.
Some other key Facebook Lite usage statistics:
- Over 200 million daily active users
- Launched in 2015, hit 100 million users by 2017
- Popular in South America, Southeast Asia, India
- Nearly 50% of users are under age 25
The rapid user growth demonstrates the demand for a lighter Facebook app, especially in emerging market countries. The vast majority of Facebook Lite’s user base comes from outside Europe and North America.
Reviews of Facebook Lite
Most reviews of Facebook Lite are positive, citing its benefits for low-end devices, slower connections, and saving data costs. Some examples:
- “Facebook Lite is super fast and uses less data. I can finally use Facebook on my old phone.”
- “Works perfectly for me on a 2G network. Hardly uses any data and pages load fast.”
- “Simple and streamlined. Has just what I need without unnecessary features.”
- “Lightweight Facebook that doesn’t eat up my phone’s storage or memory.”
However, some users complain that it lacks too many standard Facebook features like games, video calling, and camera effects. But overall, it meets its main goal of providing a fast and data-efficient Facebook experience.
How to Get Facebook Lite
Facebook Lite can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store on Android devices. Just search for “Facebook Lite” or follow these steps:
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
- Search for “Facebook Lite” or click this direct link to the app’s page.
- Tap “Install” to download Facebook Lite.
- Once installed, open Facebook Lite and log in with your Facebook account.
The app will work on Android versions 4.0.3 and higher. Make sure you have a stable internet connection for installing the app.
Tips for Using Facebook Lite
Here are some tips to get the best experience using Facebook Lite:
- Limit background data usage: Turn on Data Saver in the app’s settings to reduce data usage when running in the background.
- Download only on WiFi: Enable the “Download only on Wifi” option to avoid large downloads on mobile data.
- Update manually: Disable auto-update to prevent large update downloads. Instead, manually update occasionally on WiFi.
- Use Messenger Lite: Install the Messenger Lite app for reduced-data messaging.
- Limit notifications: Adjust notification settings to get only essential alerts and preserve battery life.
Conclusion
In summary, Facebook Lite is an official lightweight Facebook app for Android. With over 1 billion monthly users, it serves Facebook’s goal of bringing their platform to emerging countries with limited connectivity and resources. The streamlined Lite app provides the core Facebook experience on low-end smartphones and slower networks. While it lacks some functionality of the full app, Facebook Lite enables millions globally to access Facebook services and connect on the go.