# Rival Messaging Apps (UPDATE) The Facebook Slingshot App Sends Photo Status Updates By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-06-18 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/facebook-slingshot References: [gizmodiva](http://gizmodiva.com/mobile_phones/facebook-slingshot-lets-visual-status-update.php) & [itunes.apple](https://itunes.apple.com/app/id878681557) Last week, the [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/facebook1) Slingshot app quickly went up on the [Apple](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nothing-chats) iTunes App Store before being removed equally as fast. As of yesterday, the [Snapchat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snapstreak-restore) competitor app is back up officially for download. The app is extremely similar to Snapchat in a number of ways, including that you can allow your friends to view videos and photos for a short period of time. However, unlike Snapchat, when you "sling" someone a message, they'll need to send something in return to view the content you sent. Since this encourages a constant back and forth between messengers, it forces users to be more social. Facebook has a number of other standalone apps, but instead of relying on a user's Facebook account, the Slingshot app is tied to a user's phone number instead. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Quick Messaging Apps:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a messaging app that allows users to send and receive quick messages with a social back-and-forth interaction. - **Temporary Content Sharing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a platform that enables users to share photos and videos for a limited time, encouraging engagement and interaction. - **Standalone Messaging Platforms:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a messaging app that does not require a user's social media account, such as phone number-based authentication. ### Who This Affects Most - **Social Media:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate a quick messaging feature into existing social media platforms to enhance user engagement. - **Mobile Applications:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a unique mobile messaging application that offers innovative features to attract users. - **Communication Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new communication technologies that prioritize privacy, security, and user interaction. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Silent Messaging Applications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silent-message.md) - [Photo-Based Messenger Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snapstreak-restore.md) - [Disappearing Chat Messages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/midnight-disappearing-chats.md) - [Image-Based Alternative Social Medias](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/noteit.md) - [Social Video Reaction Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seen-app.md) - [Visual Chat Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picnow.md) - [Creator-Focused Video Editing Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/story-studio.md) - [Invite-Only Social Medias](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lapse.md) - [Photo-Centric Decentralized Medias](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bluesky-flashes.md)