A new app for Android-users only launched on Wednesday called Instagram Lite. It only takes up 2MB, unlike the original Instagram app that uses 720 MB.

Facebook has been working on launching this app for a few years, and it’s now available in 170 different countries.

There are a few things that will be similar to the original Instagram when it comes to sharing and viewing photos and videos, creating stories and IGTV features and the ability to use the explore page, according to Tech Crunch.

There are also a few things that’ll be missing, including some graphics, advertising features, the ability to make “TikTok-ish” reels, dark mode, shopping and any iOS options. As time goes on, there will be updates that may include these features that have been originally left out.

“The philosophy is really that we want to bring all of Instagram to these users,” Nick Brown, a project manager stated when talking about all users of Instagram from many different platforms.

Many Twitter users are confused with this development or don’t necessarily understand why it was developed in the first place.

“Our teams build these lightweight versions of our apps for people with low connectivity or limited data plans because our basic premise is to leave no one behind,” Tzach Hadar, director of product management at Facebook Tel Aviv, one of the largest strategic engineering hubs for Facebook globally, said. “We wanted the Instagram experience to remain fast, high-quality and reliable, irrespective of the device, platform and network people are on.”

Instagram is rolling out a lightweight version of its image-focused social network, which could appeal to people in countries with poor data connections
Instagram is rolling out a lightweight version of its image-focused social network, which could appeal to people in countries with poor data connections AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
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