Social media is becoming increasingly prevalent in the media landscape of French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp… These platforms are at the heart of African internet users' lives. Despite this, internet access on the continent remains a critical issue, and digital giants are forced to adapt to the realities on the ground.
In recent years, Facebook has been strengthening its presence on the continent, contributing to the development of the digital ecosystem in a region where social media has 155 million monthly active users.
Facebook has announced the launch of Instagram Lite in sub-Saharan Africa, a new lightweight version of the Instagram app for Android designed to overcome connectivity issues and high data costs. The new version of Instagram Lite for Android is less than 2 MB, making it quick to install and load and accessible to as many people as possible, even though some features (IGTV, shopping, and Reels) are not included. This version has already been rolled out in more than 170 countries, particularly in developing countries.
"As a technology and innovation company, Africa represents a promising market in that, with all the opportunities and challenges it presents, it is fertile ground for innovation," said Aïda Ndiaye of the Facebook team in an interview with Adweknow
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