Facebook takes on Snapchat with temporary messaging service

The challenge comes after Snap was valued at $24 billion when it launched on the stock market last week
REUTERS
Jamie Nimmo9 March 2017

Facebook has thrown down the gauntlet to Snapchat by launching its own temporary messaging service.

Messenger Day will allow users of Facebook’s instant messaging service to post pictures and videos for friends to view before they are automatically deleted after 24 hours, similar to Snapchat Stories.

Messenger product manager Tony Leach said: “The visual status format has definitely evolved as a new way to express yourself. Snapchat and others have proved that it’s a good model.” He said users do not always want pictures and videos to “hang around forever”.

The launch could deal a major blow to Snapchat, just a week after its $24 billion IPO.

Critics warned that Snap Inc, the parent company of Snapchat, faced competition from the likes of Facebook, which tried and failed to buy it for $3 billion in 2013.

The launch of Instagram Stories last year is thought to have contributed to Snapchat’s slowing growth in the third quarter, which was revealed in its IPO documents. Instagram is also owned by Facebook, as is popular internet texting service WhatsApp.

Mark Zuckerberg said last year that while text is the main way we communicate on social media apps, “we believe a camera will be the main way that we share”.

Facebook has trialled the service in several countries, including Poland and Australia.

There are no plans yet for advertising on the platform, but Leach said: “I wouldn’t rule it out in the future.”

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