Facebook has had a long running feud with Snapchat and it was only a matter of time before it launched its own competing mobile app. Meet Slingshot, the social network’s take on ephemeral photo and video-based messages.
Despite the same basic functionality, Slingshot is very different in that users can’t see any image they receive unless they send back a snap or video of their own. There’s no such thing as a passive users, everyone has to contribute and while it’s an interesting ploy to keep the community active, it’s the most restrictive and annoying part of the app.
When first popping open Slingshot, the app prompts users to connect their Facebook accounts or to sign up with a completely new account. Afterwards a camera app fills up the entire screen with only a shutter button, the ability to flick on the flash and another to take selfies. Drag the camera screen down and users can find their profile information, any received messages, plus add new contacts.
Once users have taken a shot they can draw on squiggles or type a caption. Tapping to use the image will slide up the contacts page to select recipients and once the image is slung the app will play a small, cute animation shrinking user’s image and send it zipping forwards as if it were fired by an actual slingshot.
Users on the receiving end will be notified they’ve received a message but it will be locked and pixelated until they actually send a message back. This is where the app becomes annoying and frustrating to use. Unlike Snapchat, Slingshot cannot access the camera roll on Android or iOS, which means I had to find something interesting to shoot or otherwise send a selfie just to see a message in the first place.
