Instagram launches in India on Facebook Fuel for India event

Instagram Lite will now be available for testing in India. The company announced the launch on Facebook Fuel For India virtual event. Instagram also announced the second edition of the ‘Born on Instagram’ creator program. The new edition of the program will help the next generation of content creators with the best practices to use the platform. It will also enable them with collaboration and mentorship opportunities, says the company.

Instagram research showed that, in India, the size of the app was one barrier to the entry of new products. This set them to test Instagram Lite. "India is a primarily test country for Lite", notes the company.

“India is such an important country for us. It has been a testing ground for innovation, thanks to the natural creativity and entrepreneurial spirit we see here. With the test of Instagram Lite and the next edition of Born on Instagram, we’re aiming to democratise expression and creativity for a greater number of people in India. We’re also hoping to gain valuable insights before a global rollout of Instagram Lite,” Vishal Shah, VP of Product, Instagram at Facebook, said in a press statement.

History of Instagram Lite

Instagram Lite first launched in 2018 in Mexico. It was later expanded to more markets such as Kenya, Peru, and the Philippines. But earlier this year in May, the company removed it from the Google Play Store. The new version of Instagram Lite comes with improved speed, performance, and responsiveness, Instagram said in a release. The app offers a similar experience like the main app but it doesn't have support features such as Reels, Shopping and IGTV. Instagram Lite is also available in Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu.

Instagram had added several new features this year, including Reels, which is similar to TikTok. Facebook also announced Live Rooms this year. About Instagram Lite app, the company confirmed it will start testing the app in India as well. The app is less than 2MB in size and “is built to deliver an Instagram experience that remains fast and reliable for more people,” according to the company.