As expected, Facebook (FB) launched its new video and messaging app Slingshot — a not quite exact copy of popular messaging app Snapchat.
There is much to review with the new app, though here are three takeaways that you must know.
#1: Slingshot forces interaction in the most unlikely way
The biggest news from this app is that you can’t view photos or videos from the app unless you send one back yourself (sling!).
But how do you respond to a message if you can’t even see what it says? That’s the biggest complaint users have so far.
“It’s frustrating, not exciting when a friend sends you a shot and you can’t immediately view it,” wrote Ellis Hamburger in tech-news site The Verge. “Slingshot is a new and strange example of a messaging app that raises barriers instead of tearing them down, and increases the friction to viewing a friend’s photo instead of reducing it.”
For Slingshot creators, however, that’s besides the point.
“With Slingshot, we wanted to build something where everybody is a creator and nobody is just a spectator,” its creators said Tuesday in a blog post announcing the app. “When everyone participates, there’s less pressure, more creativity and even the little things in life can turn into awesome shared experiences.”
#2: Slingshot is Facebook’s middle finger to Snapchat
Facebook had tried to purchase Snapchat for a cool couple of billion according to reports, but Snapchat rebuffed Facebook’s offer last fall.
Facebook then tried to launch Poke, a messaging app that failed to connect with users.
While Snapchat has an estimated 30 million users, Facebook is hoping Slingshot will draw some of those away — gaining group in an area that is rapidly becoming popular with younger users.
“We’ve enjoyed using Snapchat to send each other ephemeral messages and expect there to be a variety of apps that explore this new way of sharing,” Facebook said.
One new change is that anyone can send messages to any user they chose — provided they have their contact info. There is no approval process.
#3: Slingshot’s images disappear like Snapchat’s disappear — in that they don’t
Note that Slingshot touts that its images disappear after viewing — but users can still take a screenshot of the image. Or, there is likely to be an app that allows users to view old ‘slings’ just as there is an app that allows users to view ‘disappeared’ Snapchat images.
Slingshot is available in the United States, starting Tuesday, on iPhone (iOS7) and Android (Jelly Bean and KitKat). A spokeswoman said the app will roll out to other countries in the future.
FB stock is down .11% in morning trading but up 17% year to date.
