Facebook introduces 'lite' version of app for emerging countries

Facebook looks to bring its social network to emerging markets. They have just introduced a new simplified version of its mobile app for Android users in developing countries. Called Facebook Lite, it runs Facebook's core functionality while only taking up 252KB of space. Messaging has been integrated within the app to lessen the digital footprint it takes up. It is meant to run on slower 2G networks  for countries like Nepal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. If you're in one of those countries, you can download the app below.

Source: Slate | Download: Google Play Store (Free)

Facebook wants to keep fake news at bay

Facebook tweaked its News Feed yet again so you get to see less hoaxes when you scroll through it. According to the social network, “Today’s update to News Feed reduces the distribution of posts that people have reported as hoaxes and adds an annotation to posts that have received many of these types of reports to warn others on Facebook.”

This is in line with Facebook’s recent feature that lets you report stories you think are false or those “purposefully fake or deceitful news, [or] a hoax disproved by a reputable source.” Hopefully, this means there are less of the scams and misleading tales showing up on our feeds.

Source: Facebook | Via: Fast Company

Facebook issues official apology for ‘Year in Review’ feature

Not everyone’s year has been awesome but Facebook’s algorithm doesn’t know that. That’s why Facebook had to issue an official apology for its “Year in Review” automated recap feature. Facebook user Eric Meyer wrote on his personal blog how his Year in Review showed select photos of his 6-year-old daughter who died of brain cancer earlier this year.

The Year in Review feature makes a special album based on important photos of the year and comes with the tagline: “It’s been a great year! Thanks for being a part of it.” It relies on those that get the most likes or comments from others. But it isn’t able to distinguish between the happy and sad memories. Facebook’s Jonathan Gheller, product manager for Year in Review, personally apologized for the grief the feature brought to Meyer.

Source: Washington Post | Via: SlashGear

Facebook launches app to let you add stickers to photos

In case you wanted one more Facebook app, the social network introduced the new Stickered for Messenger app. It will let you add stickers to photos and send them through Messenger. Of course, in time for the holidays there are holiday-themed sticker packs. Some of the holiday-related frames include New Year’s Eve selfies and “Snow globe chat heads.” It is available on Google Play Store and coming soon for iOS.

Source: Facebook Newsroom | Via: Venture Beat