Facebook takes on Snapchat with new disappearing messages

Back in 2013, Facebook offered Snapchat a whopping $3 billion buyout deal that CEO Evan Spiegel famously declined. While Snapchat is doing better than ever after that failed acquisition, it seems as though Facebook is taking the “if you can’t acquire them, copy them” approach with several of its new features.

Facebook borrowed Snapchat’s Stories feature for Instagram Stories and now it’s testing a new camera app that allows you to take selfies and videos with filters and effects built in. You an then share these videos and pictures with friends on your news feed. Don’t get any replies within 24 hours? The story disappears. Sound familiar? That’s because it’s basically Snapchat.

Right now it seems as though tests for this new feature are limited to Ireland, but if it gains traction it could see wider rollout, bringing Facebook’s 1.4 billion monthly users a lot closer to Snapchat-like features.