Last year, Facebook tried many times to look like Snapchat, the company the social networking giant unsuccessfully tried to buy for $3 billion back in 2012.
Although, it built and then shut down multiple clones, Facebook is now fighting Snapchat by building features into its own existing products.
Here’s the list of features Facebook launched this year that appears to be direct threats to Snapchat:
- Facebook bought MSQRD, an app that creates silly face filters, in March. It has since added the face filter technology to the main Facebook app and Messenger.
- Facebook started testing a new Snapchat-style camera inside its main app. Messages sent using the new camera are ephemeral.
- Facebook built a Snapchat clone app called Flash specifically for emerging markets like Brazil.
- Instagram ripped off Snapchat’s Stories feature. Instagram also added ephemeral messaging.
