Facebook Launches Facebook Lite Beta Test

If you were one of the lucky Facebook users chosen to beta test Facebook Lite, the social media website's new simpler version, you would have received the following message on your home page:

“You have been selected as a beta tester for Facebook Lite!

Check out Facebook Lite now at http://lite.facebook.com.”

Unfortunately, the link to Facebook Lite didn't work. But, what did work, was the controversy it stirred. For many, this sent a clear message that Facebook is serious about making a challenge for the social networking top spot held by Twitter. However, that all depends on who you ask.

If you ask the powers that be at Facebook, they will tell you that the Facebook Lite is nothing more than a fast-loading, simplified version of Facebook that enables people to make comments, accept Friend requests, write on people’s Walls, and look at photos and Status updates. As for the roll out, Facebook claims it was a mistake to expose Facebook Lite to as many users as it was.

However, many are interpreting the mistaken Facebook Lite beta test as sending a message about its true intention, which is to challenge Twitter and FriendFeed to become the true social networking darling.

In addition to the obvious rivalry between Facebook and Twitter, Facebook recently purchased FriendFeed for $50 million giving rise to the notion that they want to create a service just like it. Now, Facebook Lite comes along and many say the screenshot of Facebook Lite smacks of both Twitter and FriendFeed.

So maybe the Facebook Lite beta test did just what it was supposed to do, stir controversy and start a conversation. If that was the true intent, then it worked. All I know at this point is that all this social networking drama makes me want to tweet.

Written by Gabriel Dorman
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/