Facebook Kills Off Slimmed Down 'Facebook Lite' App Due to Low Adoption

[TrevorR90]

I don’t even use the app, I just use my web browser for that. It’s less djstracting that way too as I’m less likely to check it if I don’t see it as part of my apps.

 

[Deliro]

Haven't used facebook for years and recently installed it again. Amazed how bloated the App has become. Didn't use lite but I can see why they offered it. With that said Facebook is deleted again.

 

[lederermc]

There was a light version that didn't autoplay videos or download tons of images I wouldn't care about anyway? Darn, I would have loved that!

And don't even think about using FB as a substitute for iMessage.

 

[MVMNT]

Did it still serve ads?

 

[smetvid]

Facebook just realized the lite version is not sucking as much user data as they wanted.

I encouraged people to not even install the Facebook app. Just bookmark the website and put it on your home screen if you really must have a Facebook icon on your phone.

Agreed. I do this on my iPad because a website can only cache so much data. An app can cache a ton of data filling up a users device very quickly. A lot of social media apps that cache images and a ton of heavy data should really be kept as web only.

 

[benspratling]

Wish I'd known it existed.

 

[mi7chy]

True lite app is with browser and request 'desktop mode' to use messenger. Two Facebook apps eliminated.

 

[SAIRUS]

React native apps don't have to be big. They can be as small as a few megabytes. Even if you go the Expo route which means lots of Expo gets bundled with your app you're looking at around 45MB. That means the Facebook-specific stuff they add is way over 200MB.

True, actually the FB app is a hybrid app with some native components repurposed into components that the backend can configure.

 

[maverick28]

There are more things a native app can have access to, like constant uploading of your contacts, access to your photos, access to more exact location, etc.

Of course, best course of action is to not use Facebook at all. However, that might not be possible for many. Thus simply accessing the site via a browser already limits a lot of things that Facebook can access on your phone.

Umm, yeah, but the almighty and kind-hearted Apple cares about our security, right? It gives control over apps in our hands, right?

 

[dumiku]

Facebook just realized the lite version is not sucking as much user data as they wanted.

I encouraged people to not even install the Facebook app. Just bookmark the website and put it on your home screen if you really must have a Facebook icon on your phone.

I thought the same thing🤣

 

[incoherent_1]

The safest way to use FB is by using Safari.

Not trolling, I’m genuinely curious: what makes Safari safer than the native app (assuming you have privacy controls setup well)?

 

[Tech198]

"Facebook Lite, the social network's slimmed down app for low speed connections and low-spec phones, is being deactivated,"

lol.. classic.

 

[Kajje]

Facebook app has 250 MBs??? Of code?? What the hell?

It's 250MB of compiled code so that number is highly exaggera.... oh wait...

 

[Kajje]

Facebook Lite through TestFlight gives 8 days before it expires...

 

[TiggrToo]

The safest way to use FB is by using Safari.

Actually the safest way is to not use it at all.

If you have to use it then a dedicated browser with privacy protections built in (i.e. you don’t use the browser for any other purpose other than log into FB) & a VPN would be a better way.

it’s all about limiting Facebook from gleaming data about you as you use the app.

Given my wife still uses Facebook I at least got her to use Brave just for it (and nothing else) and Brave has not been given an extra permissions (e.g. location). She’s also got a VPN she turns on whenever she Facebook’s just to further muddy the waters.

Not perfect, but a damn sight better than the alternative.

 

[nixo]

The safest way to use FB is by using Safari.

why ? explain !