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You Could Soon Post Disappearing Updates on Facebook, just like on Snapchat

by Milicent Atieno

You Could Soon Post Disappearing Updates on Facebook, just like on Snapchat

Facebook is currently running a test on a feature that would allow users to set the time after which their status updates would disappear. According to a Facebook spokesman, this feature is part of a small pilot program that is currently available to only a handful of Facebook users using the Facebook iOS app.

However, this would not be the first time Facebook is trying to copy the feature of disappearing messages which is synonymous with Snapchat, which are only available for a moment and disappear without leaving any permanent digital mark behind.

Back in 2012, Facebook played around with the idea of a standalone app, called Poke. The app is said to have been partly coded by the CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. It was later abandoned this year and in its place came the Slingshot. This app is similar in the sense that it is a short-lived message that disappears once two users have exchanged messages with each other.

The concept of ephemeral messages is increasingly growing more popular among social media users around the world, especially among the youth. This is probably what led to Snapchat, (which allows users to send texts, videos and photos that disappear in seconds) being so popular.

On its part, Facebook will be taking a slightly different approach on this, with the concept of scheduled deletions. The messages will last a little longer than just a few seconds like in Snapchat. Users will also be able to delete updates that are no longer of any use after a given period of time. Updates such as “I’ll be away on a trip to Cairo for the next two weeks” or “I have the tickets to tonight’s game, who will go with me?”

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