With more than 1 billion active monthly users, Instagram is fast becoming one of the main sources of social media entertainment among teens and young adults aged 25-34. The app is used by individual users, influencers, brands and businesses who all post high-quality photo and video content in an effort to engage and influence their audiences.
Instagram is a visual content platform that requires data and a stable internet connection to access. But some people have trouble accessing Instagram’s content due to a lack of cellular data and an unstable internet connection. This is where Instagram Lite comes in. This significantly less data-heavy app was created with these people in mind and has helped to provide a solution that makes the platform accessible to all.
What is Instagram Lite?
Instagram Lite is an Andriod app that is much smaller (2MB) than Instagram’s original app (30-80MB). The new app for Andriod is designed to provide a high-quality Instagram experience while using minimal data for people who live in remote and rural areas.
The app is a lightweight version of the original and was created in an effort to reach more emerging markets with low connectivity or limited data plans.
Instagram Lite contains many of the features that can be found on the original app like:
- Photo and video sharing
- Stories, stickers, and gifs
- Explore page and recommendation algorithms
- Messaging/DMs (groups supported)
- Reels and Reels tab
- Dark mode
However, the features that require significant amounts of data have been left out. These data-heavy features include:
- Animations when switching between Stories
- Story filters and AR filters
- Swipe-to-type controls
- Going Live
- Shopping and Product tabs
In order to appeal to emerging markets, Instagram Lite has been designed to not only require significantly less data but less space too! The app saves space by running code that has been saved to the cloud, rather than to the device. Making it even easier for users with limited space and data to assess the platform.
Which countries is Instagram Lite currently available in?
Instagram Lite is currently available in 170 countries, with India being the largest market so far. The app will be rolled out to the rest of the world soon.
What is Instagram Lite like?
The biggest difference between Instagram and Instagram Lite is the lack of graphics and animations that require data to load. Images are not HD to ensure that content is loaded without any lagging. But, other than that, the Instagram Lite app is not much different from the original. Users have the same profile tab with their photos, followers and followings along with an image feed and a Reels tab. The home tab is the same as well, with Stories in the top portion of the screen as well as the heart icon and the messaging icon.
How will Instagram Lite impact global social media marketing?
Instagram Lite will require businesses to deviate from their usual social media marketing strategies, mainly due to the app currently not being able to support ads. Businesses will have to find other ways to market, for example by focusing on engagement and building audiences rather than relying on shoppable posts to drive sales.
When users can’t make purchases through the platform, businesses can influence their decisions down the road by offering valuable content and becoming an account worth following. A clear reminder that Instagram once was and still is a vital platform for building brand awareness.
Businesses will also need to be mindful of the high-quality images and videos that they post. Since the app is designed to save space and require minimal data usage. Instagram Lite strategies, therefore, should rather focus on high-quality copy as a means of attracting audiences’ attention, driving engagement and converting users into paying customers.
If you need help with Instagram for business, get in touch with us today and take your business social media platforms to the next level!
