Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 2.9 billion monthly active users as of the second quarter of 2022. While the core Facebook platform is familiar to most users, there are actually a number of different versions and iterations of Facebook that have been developed over the years for various regions and demographics.
Facebook Mobile
One of the most widely used alternative versions of Facebook is Facebook Mobile. Facebook Mobile is the official mobile app for Facebook, available for both iOS and Android devices. Released in August 2006, Facebook Mobile allows users to access core Facebook functionality like their News Feed, messages, notifications, and profiles on the go from their mobile device.
Facebook Mobile uses a streamlined interface designed specifically for smaller screens. While it includes most of the same features as the desktop website, some things have been tweaked or adapted for mobile. For example, profiles display the most important info first, but users can tap to view the full profile. Additionally, some features like games, events, and Marketplace may be limited or unavailable in the mobile app.
As mobile usage has continued to grow worldwide, Facebook Mobile has become an increasingly important part of how people interact with Facebook. Over 2.5 billion people now log into Facebook on mobile each month. The app is updated frequently to add new features and optimize the experience for different devices.
Facebook Lite
Facebook Lite is a stripped-down version of Facebook designed for areas with limited internet connectivity and slower mobile networks. Launched in 2015, Facebook Lite uses less data, is faster to load for many users, and works well on both smartphones and lower-tier feature phones.
Facebook Lite offers the core Facebook experience like News Feed, statuses, photos, comments and notifications, but removes data-heavy elements like videos, high-resolution photos and large graphics. The app itself is also very small in size – under 1MB to download. This makes Facebook Lite ideal for people in emerging markets where mobile data is expensive or limited.
In addition to optimizing performance for slower connections, Facebook Lite also includes features tailored specifically for these users. This includes things like the ability to access Free Basics, a text-only Facebook experience, from the main Facebook Lite app. Data saver features help limit data usage within the app as well.
Facebook Lite has seen strong adoption in regions like Southeast Asia, South America, Africa and Southern Europe. As of 2018, it had over 200 million monthly active users globally across over 100 countries.
Facebook Messenger Lite
Alongside the Facebook Lite mobile app, there is also Facebook Messenger Lite. Messenger Lite provides a fast, more streamlined version of the Facebook Messenger app for Android devices.
Similarly to Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite is designed for areas with limited connectivity and is optimized to minimize data usage. The app has a download size under 10MB, uses fewer resources, and has a simplified interface focused on messaging, calls and photos.
Messenger Lite lacks some of the features and rich media found in the full Messenger app, like games, chat bots and external app integrations. But the core messaging capabilities remain intact. Users can still message friends or groups, send photos and stickers, and make voice and video calls.
Messenger Lite first launched in 2017 and has been growing in adoption since, especially in emerging markets. As of 2020, it had over 300 million monthly active users, primarily across South Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Facebook for Developers
Facebook for Developers offers a version of the Facebook platform tailored specifically for, as the name suggests, developers. It allows developers to test and build Facebook-integrated apps and products within a dedicated development environment.
Key features of Facebook for Developers include:
- Access to Facebook APIs and SDKs for building apps
- App dashboard for managing apps in development
- App tester roles to test apps before public release
- Dedicated support resources for developers
The platform also includes dedicated Facebook login integration, allowing developers to test Facebook login flows within their apps during the development process.
Facebook for Developers provides developers with a sandbox environment separate from the core Facebook platform to build and iterate on their integrations safely. Apps in development are only visible to designated tester roles until they are approved for public release to Facebook users.
Facebook Campus
Facebook Campus is a college-only version of Facebook that launched as a pilot program in 2020. Campus is restricted to students with a valid .edu email address from participating universities.
The purpose of Campus is to provide college students with a more private, closed social network for connecting with other students at their university. Standard Facebook features are modified to focus more heavily on groups and events relevant to campus life.
Some key features that differentiate Facebook Campus include:
- Separate profile from standard Facebook account
- Ability to create campus-affiliated groups and events
- Campus directory to find and meet fellow students
- Feed focused on university-specific content
The pilot program for Facebook Campus launched with just 30 universities participating. But Facebook plans to expand access to more universities over time if the pilot proves successful.
Facebook Gaming
Facebook Gaming is a version of Facebook built around streaming and gaming content. Introduced in 2018, Facebook Gaming allows users to watch and stream live gameplay, follow gaming creators, and connect in gaming-focused groups.
Core features of Facebook Gaming include:
- Home feed focused on game livestreams, videos and community
- Gaming creator profiles and Pages
- Gaming-focused groups
- Gameplay streaming platform
Facebook Gaming aims to take on established gaming-centric platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming. It offers monetization options for content creators to earn revenue through their streams and content.
The platform exists both as a standalone mobile app and as a tab within the core Facebook app. It has seen strong adoption in regions like Southeast Asia, Latin America and Southern Europe in particular.
Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating is Facebook’s integrated dating platform that allows users to match with and chat with potential romantic matches. Launched gradually across the world beginning in 2018, Facebook Dating is available either within the main Facebook app or as a separate app.
With Facebook Dating, users create a separate dating profile that friends cannot see. You can match with other users, chat in the app, share Stories from your day and eventually plan to meet up in person. Matching algorithms factor in things like shared interests, events and friend networks.
Facebook Dating leverages Facebook’s extensive user data to suggest potential matches. But users must opt-in to create a dating profile, and other Facebook activity is not shared to the dating section. Users can also report and block other users within the dating service as needed.
As of 2022, Facebook Dating is available globally in over 100 countries after gradually expanding region-by-region. It faces competition from established dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble.
Facebook Business Suite
Facebook Business Suite provides a version of Facebook optimized for business management and communication. Rather than personal profiles, Business Suite users have access to business pages, ad accounts, analytics and engagement features.
Key elements include:
- Unified inbox for messages and notifications
- Post composer for managing business posts
- Page, ad and Instagram DM management
- Business dashboard with analytics
Business Suite consolidates features previously found across Facebook’s business tools like Pages Manager, Messenger Business and Instagram Direct. The platform is targeted towards small businesses, advertisers and social media managers.
Facebook is positioning Business Suite as the main hub businesses should use to engage with customers across Facebook apps. Adoption has grown steadily since its 2020 launch, with over 14 million businesses using it as of late 2021.
Facebook Local
Facebook Local provides a local business discovery experience within the main Facebook app. It allows users to find and interact with nearby shops, restaurants and services.
Local sections of the app feature:
- Nearby business recommendations
- Location-based ads
- Easy access to business Pages
- Options to call, direct message or get directions to local businesses
The Local feed highlights recommendations tailored to each user based on past engagement with local businesses, ads they’ve interacted with and other signals. Suggested content comes from nearby Pages users have not previously interacted with.
Facebook Local launched broadly on iOS in 2021 and on Android in 2022. It provides local businesses easier access to new customers where users are already engaging daily.
Facebook Workplace
Facebook Workplace is a separate version of Facebook designed for enterprise internal communication. Similar to Facebook, Workplace allows organizations to build an internal social network for employees to connect.
Key features include:
- Organization news feed
- Groups, chat and video call
- Live events and learning
- Integrations with enterprise tools
Workplace can be accessed via desktop and mobile apps. Admin features allow configuration and integration with existing business systems. Adoption has focused on large enterprises, with over 50,000 organizations using Workplace as of 2022.
Workplace faces competition from other enterprise social networks like Microsoft Viva and Slack Connect. But its familiar Facebook-like interface can help drive employee engagement.
Facebook Pay
Facebook Pay provides integrated payment functionality across Facebook’s apps, allowing users to make payments and donations without leaving the app.
Facebook Pay supports:
- Peer-to-peer payments on Messenger
- Donations to nonprofits on Facebook
- In-app payments on Facebook Gaming
- Purchases from Shops on Instagram
Rather than entering payment details each time, Facebook Pay allows users to register a payment method for frictionless checkout. Supported payment methods include credit/debit cards, PayPal and local payment options.
Facebook Pay launched broadly in the US in 2020 after initial smaller-scale launches. Facebook plans to expand it internationally across its apps and surfaces moving forward.
Portal from Facebook
Facebook Portal is Facebook’s lineup of smart display devices for video calling and smart home control. Portal features include:
- Video calls via Messenger and WhatsApp
- Smart camera that automatically pans and zooms
- Integration with smart home devices
- Virtual assistant access via Alexa
Portal devices are designed to be centered around communication features, with video calling as the primary use case. But Facebook integration allows viewing content like photos and videos from the Facebook app as well.
Since the first model in 2018, Facebook has continued expanding the Portal lineup with new versions and form factors. It provides a differentiated voice/video-first Facebook experience compared to mobile apps and web.
Kids Apps
Facebook offers dedicated kid-friendly versions of Messenger and Instagram as well:
- Messenger Kids – Parent-controlled messaging app for kids under 13.
- Instagram Kids – Planned version of Instagram for children under 13.
These apps provide age-appropriate experiences under parent supervision. They also help Facebook engage younger demographics using compliant privacy approaches.
Experimental Apps
Facebook has open sourced several experimental apps that showcase alternative Facebook experiences:
- Facebook Demeter – Progressive web app version of Facebook.
- FB4A – Accessible version of Facebook for screen readers.
- Facecast – Desktop Facebook client built with React Native.
While not official products, these apps allow the broader community to reimagine and contribute to building the future of Facebook.
Technology Variations
Beyond core user-facing versions of Facebook, there are also technical variations of Facebook’s platforms and infrastructure:
- Facebook Reality Labs – Developing future tech like AR/VR and neural interfaces.
- Applied Machine Learning – Responsible AI research group.
- Nemo – Facebook’s AI simulator for research.
- Zanzibar – Open source load testing platform.
Groups like these build the underlying technologies powering Facebook’s apps. But their work also contributes to advancing the broader fields of AI, VR and related disciplines.
Interoperability
While they adapt the Facebook experience to new use cases, most official Facebook versions maintain interoperability with each other and the core apps through Facebook Business Tools and Facebook Login:
- Facebook Business Tools allow managing Pages, ad accounts etc. across apps.
- Facebook Login provides unified identity and account services.
This means most Facebook experiences leverage shared data and infrastructure while tailoring specific features to their audience.
Conclusion
Facebook offers a variety of official apps and spinoffs adapted for specific demographics, uses and technical foundations. Key versions highlighted include:
- Mobile apps like Facebook Mobile, Facebook Lite and Messenger Lite.
- Apps for specific audiences like Campus, Gaming, Dating and Business.
- Technical products like Workplace, Portal and experimental apps.
While the core Facebook app and website remain the flagship experience, these iterations help evolve the platform for new use cases. They allow Facebook to adapt to emerging trends and usage habits across the world.