Shelly Palmer

Facebook Launches ‘Slingshot,’ Its Latest Alternative to Snapchat (Update: NOPE!)

Facebook has been promising that it would “shatter itself into pieces” in order to better compete on mobile by breaking up the main Facebook app into mini-apps focused on specific features. On Monday, it made good on these previously stated intentions with a new photo and video-sharing app called Slingshot, now available in select markets. The app is designed to allow friends to share photos and videos of what they’re currently up to, by “slinging” that content to others on the service. However, unlike, say, competitor Snapchat, friends can’t see your shot until they, in turn, sling something back. That feature, though a bit gimmicky, seems specifically designed to increase the viral effects and spread of Slingshot. By tapping into users’ natural curiosity, they may be motivated to share with a friend in order to “unlock” the new shots they receive.

Read the full story at TechCrunch.

UPDATE: Engadget says it’s no longer available. More details on that can be found here.