Facebook rolls out Instagram Lite to users in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa

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Instagram users in Nigeria and indeed other countries in Sub-saharan Africa are set to enjoy same for less as Facebook has announced it is rolling out Instagram Lite to Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the social media giant, Insta Light is a new, lightweight version of the Instagram app that uses less data and works well across all network conditions.

Instagram is probably the most visual of all the social media because its basic contents are videos and pictures. This makes the platform a data-intensive one because uploading quality pictures and videos require a lot of data. With data still unaffordable for the average person in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, users find themselves unable to keep up with the platform no matter how much they really want to.

Instagram Lite is rolling out in over 170 emerging markets

Instagram Lite would offer such users a less data-intensive platform where they can enjoy more or less the same experience with less data. The new version of Instagram is less than 2MB in size and as such it is fast to install and quick to load. It also has improved speed, performance, and responsiveness.

According to Facebook, the new experience is as fast and reliable as the regular Instagram and aimed at reaching more people no matter what device, platform and network they use.

Speaking on the new development, Engineering Manager for Instagram Lite, Peter Shin said rolling out the Lite version of Instagram to sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets became necessary because internet connectivity in those regions could be painfully slow and unaffordable.

“Connectivity in the region can be unstable, slow and expensive, making it challenging for people to have a high-quality Instagram experience. Many people were already familiar with the concept of a Lite app after the successful roll-out of Facebook Lite some years ago.”

Peter Shin.

“We started testing the new version of Instagram Lite when people across the continent started asking for a Lite app for Android. The feedback was very positive and we are excited to launch it across the continent today,” he said.

“Our team aims to leave no one behind, so today we are very excited to bring Instagram Lite to people in over 170 countries, including the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region,” he added.

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Facebook is targeting users in areas with slow and unaffordable internet connectivity

While Instagram Lite is touted by the company to be similar to the main Instagram app experience, some features are, however, not currently supported. Features such as Reels creation, Shopping, and IGTV are all missing from the app. With this development, Facebook is targeting users in locations with limited bandwidth or high data costs, especially in the developing world.

Instagram Lite for Android is less than 2MB in size. It is currently rolling out in over 170 countries and is only available for download on Android.


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