This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
Published on May 12, 2020, Instagram Lite, a lightweight version of the popular social media app, has been removed from the Google Play Store. The move comes as the company works on a new version that will leverage the insights gained from its predecessor.
Launched in 2018, Instagram Lite was designed to cater to users in countries with limited internet bandwidth and resource constraints. The app was particularly popular in Kenya, where it consistently ranked among the top free applications, with 12.5% of its users based in the country.
According to Sensor Tower, via TechCrunch, the discontinuation of Instagram Lite will likely be a significant blow to its users in Kenya, who relied on the app for their social media needs. However, users can still access Instagram through the browser or download the full app from the Play Store.
Instagram's decision to discontinue Lite and work on a new version suggests that the company is committed to providing a better experience for its users. The new app is expected to incorporate all the lessons learned from Instagram Lite's two-year existence, making it a more robust and feature-rich platform.
