FB Buys Selfie Face-Swap App MSQRD

FB Buys Selfie Face-Swap App MSQRD
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Highlights

Facebook tries hard countervailing Snap chat. The social network\'s takeover of Masquerade was made official. This Minsk based start-up (Belarus) developed an phone application, named MSQRD, which gives the possibility to add filters, in real time, on users\' faces. Hence, one can take pictures or videos and then share them on the social networks, by email application or SMS text.

Facebook tries hard countervailing Snap chat. The social network's takeover of Masquerade was made official. This Minsk based start-up (Belarus) developed an phone application, named MSQRD, which gives the possibility to add filters, in real time, on users' faces. Hence, one can take pictures or videos and then share them on the social networks, by email application or SMS text.

Launched in December 2015, MSQRD is a huge success. It is indeed heading the list of the most uploaded free apps on IOS, Apple's mobile operating
system, in sixteen countries, according to AppAnnie firm's reports.

For several years Facebook has been trying to play opposite to Snapchat appearance on the market, which Mark Zuckenberg, FB's CEO and founder, considers as a threat. This application, which let you send ephemeral pictures and videos is highly popular among the youth. More than half of its users are under 25 years of age, a target FB just won't let go so easily. Besides, Snapchat's social aspect is being more and more developed.

In the Spring 2015, the Los Angeles suburb based company claimed over 100 million users a day. Ten times less than Facebook. However, Snapchat enthusiastic work hard: the average time spent on the platform is of 30 minutes, according to Snapchat's CEO Evan Spiegel. And, 8 billion videos
are watched everyday. This is just as much as FB.

Several strategies were conducted by Menlo Park's company against Snapchat. First, a mere clone was conceived late 2015, within a few hours. This app, named Poke, turns a huge failure. Then, a takeover attempt was led by M.Zuckerberg himself. But, his 3 billion dollars offer was rejected, late 2013. In June 2014, the network then launched Slingshot, Snapchat's new competitor based on a slightly different idea. Another failure.

Thew strategy seems to lay on Messenger, which must be installed in order to discuss with your FB's friends on a smartphone. For two years, the app's additions were multiplied by the company to seduce the young. For instance, it is possible to send animated GIFs. Short lasting messages were also introduced. MSQRD filters seem to follow the same lead. Moreover, Snapchat offers a similar function since September, following Looksery start-up takeover.

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