Today, Facebook has announced another key addition in Messenger’s ongoing expansion, with a slimmed down version (called ‘Messenger Lite’) to boost usage on older devices and in regions of low connectivity.
Releasing a Lite version works in line with Facebook’s wider mission to provide greater connectivity to everyone, an initiative largely lead by their internet.org program. And that program has some big potential benefits – while Facebook is already the most utilized social media app in the world at 1.71 billion monthly active users, that’s still only some 23% of the world’s population.
Of course, that number includes a large proportion of people that can’t actually access Facebook. Plus, another key element in this is the regions where Facebook, or Messenger, can’t be accessed due to poor network connectivity. That gives the company lot of audience potential to keep working with – back in February, Mark Zuckerberg said they’re aiming for five billion Facebook users by 2020. Looking at the demographic data and the projects in play, including Messenger Lite, they might be on track to reach it.
Through additions like Messenger Lite, and projects like their Aquila drone project, which aims to bring internet connectivity to remote regions, Facebook’s not only on a mission to connect the world, but, more operatively, to connect the world to Facebook, greatly expanding their audience reach, network influence and the value of their already powerful ad platform.
It may seem like a small announcement, but the addition of a low-fi version of Messenger is another important step towards Facebook’s plans for global domination.