Meta Company has announced the discontinuation of Messenger Lite, a streamlined version of Facebook Messenger designed to save storage space and reduce data consumption. The app, already removed from the Google Play Store, will cease to be supported on Android devices starting next month.
Specifically, Android will halt support on September 18, with message exchange functionality coming to an end on September 28.
Introduced by Facebook in 2016, Messenger Lite gained substantial popularity among users due to its efficient use of device storage and data resources. However, in 2020, the app was removed from iOS devices. The application garnered a substantial user base, with 760 million downloads globally. The highest number of users were recorded in India, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.
Meta has instituted a series of modifications to Messenger Lite. Notably, the app will no longer support SMS services beginning September 28, rendering it incapable of sending or receiving messages.
This decision aligns with Meta’s broader strategy, as they plan to enhance the original Facebook Messenger’s security and privacy features, including the implementation of end-to-end encryption, by year-end.
Despite its popularity, Meta has opted to shutter Messenger Lite in favor of concentrating on the main Facebook Messenger platform. This move comes as part of Meta’s strategic shift towards enhancing the security and privacy of its core messaging service.
The closure of Messenger Lite marks the end of an era for an app that catered to users seeking a more lightweight and data-efficient messaging experience.