Do not download from random “free APK” websites full of pop-ups. Use reputable APK archives:
This was a stripped-down version designed for older hardware. While the official Lite app has been discontinued in some regions, older archived versions (v1.0 to v30.0) are often the most stable choice for KitKat devices. Old Messenger APKs: i--- Messenger Android 4.4.2 Apk
The final stable versions that fully support are in the v300–v340 range . Specifically: Do not download from random “free APK” websites