Facebook today launched a new app called Slingshot, which is designed to compete with popular ephemeral messaging app Snapchat. A video and photo messaging app, Slingshot allows users to send media to friends, who are unable to view it until they share something back.
Shots taken with the camera can be edited with captions and doodles, and then sent to multiple friends or a single friend. Slingshot requires a phone number to sign up, but it does not force users to sign up with or use Facebook. When a message is received, it is "locked" until a user sends a shot of their own, a feature Facebook hopes will encourage more active sharing.
Slingshot lets you quickly share moments--little and big--with lots of people at once. Shoot a photo or video of what you're up to and sling it to a bunch of friends. They won't be able to see your shot until they sling something back. Tap on a shot to react, or simply swipe it away.
As with Snapchat, pictures and videos are deleted shortly after they are viewed, though the app does allow users to take screenshots of content.
Slingshot is not Facebook's first attempt at a Snapchat competitor. Back in 2012, while Snapchat was still in its infancy, Facebook company introduced Poke, allowing users to send ephemeral messages. The unsuccessful app was removed from the App Store in May 2014.
Slingshot was initially released and then pulled earlier this month by mistake, but it is now officially available from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
So user A sends a picture.
User B sends just a blank picture with their finger on the lens, just so they can see user A's picture.
User A then sends a blank picture too, just to see what User B replied with - a blank picture. Then both users stop using the app because it's just a never ending stream of blank pictures!
shooting themselves on the foot...
After two days, 75% of the pictures will be useless ones sent to be able to view your friend's useless one he sent to view your previous picture...
Seriously, so, if someone sends me a picture, I HAVE to send something first before I can even view it. Then, the receiver HAS to send something again just to see what I just sent to view their original submission. When does it stop?
worst case scenario:
friend sends a picture after nearly dying in a car accident
i dont see the picture so i response with a yolo party pic
friends gonna be like .... rude
>pictures and videos are deleted shortly after they are viewed
Sure they are ;-)