Facebook targets Snapchat in developing countries

Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have launched yet another app made in Snapchat’s likeness. The new app, called Flash, comes a year after Facebook terminated its previous Snapchat-like app Slingshot.

The app was reportedly developed by a team at Facebook that was tasked with creating a Snapchat-like app for emerging markets. One major difference between Flash and the company’s past attempts at creating a Snapchat killer, is this app being targeted especially at users who have limited access to mobile data services.

Speaking to the way today’s messaging is gradually evolving from text-based to photo-based, Mark Zuckerberg said of the app, “In most social apps today, a text box is still the default way we share. Soon, we believe a camera will be the main way that we share.”

This is Facebook’s third attempt at taking down the instant image messaging and multimedia mobile giant that has led some to refer to this app as the new new Snapchat killer.

At 25MB in size, Flash is almost one-third that of Snapchat’s 70MB download size for Android. In comparison, the Facebook app weighs in at around 54MB while Facebook Lite, Facebook Messenger and Instagram are 1.28MB, 46MB and 17MB respectively.

Facebook’s has already updated its broadcasting feature with Snapchat's selfie filters, which allows users to apply real-time digital video effects while live streaming.

The Android version of the Flash app was launched on 8 November in Brazil. Facebook hasn’t made any official announcement for its worldwide launch but the launch may indicate an imminent release for countries like India with a growing mobile population.