Monetization via end users is not realistic. This is my hypothesis regarding your user profile: (1) low-income or no-income aka cost sensitive, (2) possibly bad mobile data infrastructure, (3) pay-as-you-go mobile data or limited wifi access.
Your app is valuable because it is a REPLACEMENT for the company's real app, because the real deal (as you put it nicely) is too large.
I would perhaps develop clones of your app for other social networks, and have a constellation of SocialLite apps for Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc...
Why?
Because the value is in how lightweight you are but still be able to satisfy end user needs. Do not add ads, or in-app purchase bullshit. Your users don't want that. And customers are gods.
Why?
Because you are collecting DATA. Usage patterns and quantifiable habits. The companies would be interested in that. Even just Facebook might be interested in what stats you have now, and having data on their frienemies adds proportionally more value.
But
Before you write another line of code, please reach out and get some feelers to see if the companies indeed want data and what data they are looking for. Since you are in developing markets, and companies want to expand there, you are providing a unique and rare insight into those markets. Data driven insights are better than anything else.
P.S.:
I would not survey the users. Bad UX (specifically bad information timing) and whatever little data you ascertain will not be actionable anyway.
If you are not American, do not drop out. You will have issues obtaining a US work visa without a uni degree, i.e. you cannot go to Silicon Valley, i.e. you will be at a disadvantage.
Monetization via end users is not realistic. This is my hypothesis regarding your user profile: (1) low-income or no-income aka cost sensitive, (2) possibly bad mobile data infrastructure, (3) pay-as-you-go mobile data or limited wifi access.
Your app is valuable because it is a REPLACEMENT for the company's real app, because the real deal (as you put it nicely) is too large.
I would perhaps develop clones of your app for other social networks, and have a constellation of SocialLite apps for Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc...
Why?
Because the value is in how lightweight you are but still be able to satisfy end user needs. Do not add ads, or in-app purchase bullshit. Your users don't want that. And customers are gods.
Why?
Because you are collecting DATA. Usage patterns and quantifiable habits. The companies would be interested in that. Even just Facebook might be interested in what stats you have now, and having data on their frienemies adds proportionally more value.
But
Before you write another line of code, please reach out and get some feelers to see if the companies indeed want data and what data they are looking for. Since you are in developing markets, and companies want to expand there, you are providing a unique and rare insight into those markets. Data driven insights are better than anything else.
P.S.:
I would not survey the users. Bad UX (specifically bad information timing) and whatever little data you ascertain will not be actionable anyway.