LinkedIn announced that it is closing down LinkedIn Lite, its stripped-back version of the platform, which was meant for use in regions with more limited connectivity and data access provisions.
Launched back in 2017, which is an effort to help "level the playing field for all members when it comes to accessibility," LinkedIn Lite contains basic functionality from LinkedIn and is built to load faster and consume less data-more handy, especially in places where there are more restrictive data plans.

But in addition to all that, as LinkedIn continues growing, the Lite app falls further and further behind, with the functionality of full apps-the new added features like video connection, full profile display features, Creator Mode, etc-being farther and farther removed from the streamlined tool.

And with global connectivity evolving, LinkedIn now feels confident it can cut loose the scaled-back variant, which might also help increase in-app engagement and usage while making LinkedIn a much bigger player in key markets.

Which, as you can see here, are growing. Now at 810 million total members, LinkedIn continues to gain momentum in developing regions, especially India (85m members, up from 60m in 2019), South Africa (+2m since 2019), the Philippines (+3m) and Nigeria (+1m)
As with most social applications, there has been a focus on India; LinkedIn claims that Indian adoption of the full version of the app is now rising at 4x the global average as mobile adoption continues to soar in the nation.

Retirement of the Lite app could also give LinkedIn's team the chance to work further and develop and maintain its new 'InJobs' app in China after the full version of LinkedIn was taken out from China last October due to mounting regulatory pressure and scrutiny.
It has 56 million users, and connecting with China is essential, and perhaps that's yet another reason why LinkedIn is pulling away from its light form.

Either way, the LinkedIn Lite app will be removed from Android app stores January 27th, before being fully deactivated March 15th.

According to LinkedIn, users of the Lite app will be transitioned to the full LinkedIn experience in the coming weeks.