Blue and white development: Facebook today (Wednesday) unveiled a new and “easy” version of Instagram called “Instagram Lite”. This is a much lighter version than the familiar version of the app, which is intended for Android devices (weighs only two megabytes, compared to about 30 for the full version), which was developed in Israel. Work on the app began in the days of Corona, when Michelle Lowry, product manager at the company’s research and development center, moved to work from home – and faced many challenges, including a weak and unstable Internet in the kibbutz where she lives.
Along with the other challenges involved in remote work, work on the light version was significantly affected by the corona crisis, as market researchers and development teams could not reach target markets, such as India or Brazil, to test the product. They were required to be creative and decided to test the app in Israel, when each team member was given an old device with the lite version installed on it, in order to understand how it works. They also used emulators, which simulated a slow connection to the network (except for Michelle who already suffered from this problem during her stay in the kibbutz).
As mentioned, although it weighs little, and is “light” (as its name promises), the app retains the key elements that are important to Instagram users – similar to Facebook Lite, a product also developed in the company’s offices in Tel Aviv. Citrus was made possible when developers unpacked a large portion of the app code installed in the phone and moved it to the cloud.
“People want to connect and get inspired by those around them – no matter where they are, and it’s hard to do that with an outdated cell phone, a shaky connection and limited storage,” Lori explained.
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Instagram Lite (Photo: Instagram)Tzach Hadar, product management director of Lite Interfaces and one of the leaders of the Facebook R&D center in Tel Aviv, added that “our teams build the lite versions of our applications for people with poor network connection or limited data packages – because our basic premise is not to leave any One behind. “He stressed that” we wanted the Instagram usage experience to remain fast, high-quality and reliable, regardless of the device or network they use. “
Gal Zellermeier, development director of Instagram Lite in Tel Aviv, further noted that “our team conducted effective virtual research, designed to understand what users really need.”
During the work, the team focused on features used by people who are in isolated and remote places, such as video and messaging. While the team wanted to maintain Instagram’s innovative design, it needed to be attentive to how the app works when the connection is poorer and slower. “Fast responsiveness is very important for anyone dealing with ongoing network issues,” Lori described, “If you have to wait for the app to load, it’s not always clear if something went wrong or the app just doesn’t work.”
In addition, to maintain performance on the platform, the team is required to forgo data-rich design elements, such as AR filters. Despite this, they retained features that allow for creativity while using less data, such as GIFs and stickers. Even the icons have been adapted for new users in the digital world – for example, the team realized that the trash can icon would not be clear enough, and changed it to X to sharpen it used for deletion.
The new product was tested among a small group of users, and immediately new needs arose that must be included in the new light version. For example, surfers expressed a need for “dark mode” – a dark mode that will replace the light background of the platform. “For people who live in common and crowded areas it is important to surf more privately and not bother those around them,” she explained. With the launch of the app, the teams started getting positive feedback from around the world.
Instagram Lite (Photo: Instagram)As of today, people in more than 170 countries around the world, including Israel, will be able to download Instagram Lite on the Google Play Store, and enjoy a quality browsing experience on Instagram, on any device and on any network. The app will be launched worldwide soon.