Social networking site Facebook has launched a new app for iOS called Poke on Friday which erases pictures and messages within seconds of being sent. Using the social network’s “Poke” feature in order to send short text, picture and video messages as well as the more traditional poke. Users have the option of adding their location to each poke, as well as sending each message to multiple recipients at once.
Unlike traditional Facebook messaging, users can specify how long the message will be displayed before being destroyed. Each poke can be displayed for 1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds before being removed from the app entirely, and the app wil notify the sender if any recipients take a screenshot. Anyone concerned about potentially unwanted or inappropriate messages can block and report users from within the Settings menu.
The new app is similar to Snapchat, an app which is popular with younger age users, and which has gained a reputation as a tool for sending risque images. It also has similar message expiry and screenshot detection features. Pandodaily reported that Snapchat sees 50 million photos sent a day, and it would seem that Facebook sensed an opportunity to offer a similar feature to its billion or so active users, putting the app together in just under two weeks.
Unlike Snapchat which is available on iOS and Android, Poke is currently limited to those on Apple devices, with no word of whether a dedicated Android app is coming or not. Poke takes Facebook’s iOS app count to five, two of which are iPad-optimised, compared to only two on the Android platform.
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