Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Not for Sexting? Facebook Unveils New 'Poke' App

But Mashable calls it 'frustrating as hell'

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 22, 2012 5:20 PM CST

(Newser) – Don't like knowing that your text messages can live on forever? Facebook has released a new iPhone app that makes messages self-destruct after a few seconds, ABC News reports. Users of the Poke app can include a photo or video and set the time for self-destruction at one, three, five, or 10 seconds. And if the receiver screen-captures it for future viewing, the sender receives a text message saying so. Facebook says the app is designed to replicate the Web feature of "poking" in mobile devices.

Another text-destroying app called Snapchat has been available on the iPhone and is sometimes known as the "safe sexting app," but Facebook says its version is not about sending racy messages: "This is a light way and fun way to connect with your friends. ... We hope people share responsibly," says a company spokeswoman. So apparently it's not intended for the 28% of teens and 80% of college students who enjoy sexting. TechCrunch notes that Poke is already No.1 among free iPhone apps, but Mashable calls the product "frustrating as hell."

A woman on her smartphone.
A woman on her smartphone.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
21%
13%
3%
9%
3%
51%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
iq145
Dec 24, 2012 3:21 PM CST
i look forward to the inevitable (and comical) crash of Facebook. They're nothing but trouble. They pretend their 'goal' is to unite long lost family and friends. But their true goal is to make loads of money through advertising and spam. Nothing more...
jgmann
Dec 23, 2012 9:34 AM CST
If not for "sexting," why do they call it "Poke?"
Tology
Dec 23, 2012 12:00 AM CST
I'm sure it will be used for telling people to F off a lot more than for nice things.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne