Generally, you need a fairly quick network connection & a rather upscale device to run the Facebook app. However, many people, especially in developing countries do not have access to fast Internet services & they often have older phones or Tablet models.
To cater to this problem & combat the issues experienced by users in this category, Facebook introduced a much ‘lighter’ app that works over slower Internet connections – Facebook Lite.
Facebook Lite is positioned as an app that takes up less than 12mb of space on a device, this is considerably less than the standard Facebook App, which uses over 150mb. The Lite app also works over any type of network, even 2G, which means that users with outdated network connections are not discriminated against. These 2 differences are the most discrepant, but there are differences in user experience as well, particularly with regard to photo uploading in-app, while scrolling – photos take longer to upload while using Facebook Lite, & videos may not play on auto, especially if a mobile connection is being used as opposed to WiFi.
However, the layout & functionality of Facebook Lite is very similar to the standard app, so even users who have phones with good storage capacity & fast, modern Internet connections, might see the benefits of using an app that uses less data & occupies less space. So let’s take a look at just what can be achieved while using Facebook Lite.
- Connect with friends & family in much the same way as always.
- Post status updates & share photos.
- Interact with friends & family by commenting on & reacting to their posts.
- Organize & save photos by adding them to photo albums.
- Find local events & RSVP, so that you can plan meet-ups with friends or family.
- Look up local businesses, see reviews, operating hours & images.
- Browse news & current events.
- Message friends & family using the Facebook Lite Messenger.
Another plus for using Facebook Lite is that the app requests fewer permissions to your personal data, but still, the request list is rather long & invasive. Nevertheless, this factor alone is a relatively good reason for using Facebook Lite over the standard offering – you still get most of the important functionality, but use less data, less space & have more control over your privacy. In fact you can even set certain photo albums to private & avoid those annoying videos that play over your data connection without your express permission.
