Facebook One-Ups Snapchat with New Slingshot App

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Instead of breaking barriers, Facebook is building them with its new ephemeral messaging app, "Slingshot."

The app, which is available for iPhone and Android devices, differs from competitor Snapchat by taking a "pay to play" approach.

In other words: before you can open that ugly selfie from a friend, you're going to have to send something in return.

"With Slingshot, we wanted to build something where everybody is a creator and nobody is just a spectator," the Slingshot team said in a blog post Tuesday introducing the app.


While Snapchat has shifted toward making itself more accessible as a an instant messaging app, Slingshot operates more like a self-destructing newsfeed that you can only view once.

After snapping a photo or shooting a quick video, users can write on the photo or add color, just like Snapchat, before sending it to a bunch of friends.

There's even a coveted "select all" button, something Snapchat hasn't integrated.

Once the friend slings something back in return, both users will then be able to scope out each other's snaps and sift through others they have unlocked. However, the photos disappear as soon as they're swiped off of the screen.

If a friend's sling sparks a little creativity, users can send a reaction sling that will open up a split screen, encouraging back and forth engagement.

Slingshot is a product of Facebook's Creative Labs Initiative and was born during a three-day hackathon held in December 2013.

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