Remember Rooms (a topic based discussions app), Slingshot (the ephemeral messaging app) or Riff (the collaborative video platform)? Maybe, maybe not. They are all standalone apps that Facebook launched over the past couple of years. Well, they “were” in fact, because Facebook has decided to shut down its Creative Labs division, and all the apps that came out of it.
Also Read: Facebook Is Starting To Ask You What You Like To See
Although suddenly, the move is not that surprising after all. Creative Labs was always meant as a two-year experiment to build standalone mobile app experiences around the Facebook platform.
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A Facebook spokesperson explained to CNET:
[quote]Since their launches, we’ve incorporated elements of Slingshot, Riff and Rooms into the Facebook for iOS and Android apps. We haven’t updated these apps in some time and we’ve decided to officially end support by removing them from the App Store and Google Play.[/quote]
And this is in fact what has happened. Recently, we’ve been telling you all about how Facebook was seen testing ephemeral messages on Messenger, while video has come a long way on both Facebook and its Messenger app.
Creative Labs was a division born from the will of experimenting more around what people want and like to do online. The end of it doesn’t mean that Facebook will settle for what it is today, but maybe more that the company is looking to streamline its efforts, and focus on bringing more new features to its main apps.
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Featured image: Fast Company