The deluge of stories revolving around Facebook copying Snapchat might hit a zenith today as the social media company begins to launch "Facebook Stories" worldwide, this time in the main Facebook app for iOS devices (via TechCrunch). Previously, Facebook created a facsimile of Snapchat's day-long, vanishing post idea in Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, which gained 100 million users following the Snapchat-like update last year.

facebook stories
The idea is identical in Facebook Stories, where users will now be able to post a photo or video through a new UI at the top of the Facebook mobile app. Their friends can see the post over the next 24 hours and reply to it within Facebook Messenger. Continuing the trend, last week that app launched "Messenger Day" for users to create the exact same disappearing posts, but centered on creating plans with friends. Facebook originally tested out Facebook Stories in Ireland.

[Update 3/16]: Facebook has contacted MacRumors with a correction, stating that some misinformation has been floating around online and the company is "not rolling this out globally yet." The company mentioned that it is "still testing it in a few countries -- most recently, Chile, Vietnam and Greece as of yesterday," but it has "no global rollout plans or timeline to share quite yet."

Top Rated Comments

Porco Avatar
105 months ago
Once upon a time, in the land of Zuck, the magical Book of Face collected all the peole's lives in one place.

"But it's so hard to get out of the Book of Face once you're in it!" cried the people.

Then King Zuck decreed that he would make a new, even more magical Book of Face where people's lives only appeared for a short time, then vanished. And it was not at all like the Chat of Snap.

"Why do our lives now vanish so quickly!" cried the people.

Eventually they reailsed that neither flavour of the Book of Face was actually good for them, so they left the Kingdom of Zuck and they all lived happily ever after.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thingstoponder Avatar
105 months ago
Why does Facebook want them all to be the same? I hate Facebook so much.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5105973 Avatar
105 months ago
Oh great, once again the icons will be moving around in the Facebook app.

Every time I get used to the new position of an icon they move it. They certainly have never heard of consistency or user experience.
When I was dragged kicking and screaming into it about three or four years ago by friends and family it was tolerable for a year or two. By the time I washed my hands of the whole mess over the summer, it was a complete and utter mess to keep up with and navigate. And yes, it kept changing constantly so that I had to relearn my way around. It also got more forceful about trying to take my contacts and drag them into the same pit. Good riddance.

Some of the people who miss me are actually writing real letters to me again. There's a lot to be said for that, especially when some of your friends pass away and their handwritten letter is all you have left of them.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rodpascoe Avatar
105 months ago
Oh great, once again the icons will be moving around in the Facebook app.

Every time I get used to the new position of an icon they move it. They certainly have never heard of consistency or user experience.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smallcoffee Avatar
105 months ago
It should be illegal for social media sites to buy other social media sites. They are a positive feedback loop and once one gets too big it can buy any serious competitor and continue to entrench its market space. Facebook is already a monopoly. Nobody comes close.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nburwell Avatar
105 months ago
Facebook: "We couldn't buy Snapchat, so we'll make an identical feature within our smartphone apps."

Hard pass. I'll stick with Snapcat, guys.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro's alleged design via Front Page Tech Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive a New Perk

Thursday March 20, 2025 12:01 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. The new perk is the ability to create invitations in the Apple Invites app for the iPhone, which launched in the App Store last month. In the Apple Invites app, iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations for any occasion, such as birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Anyone ...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

iOS 19 Coming in June With These New Features

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:04 pm PDT by
While the first iOS 19 beta is still more than two months away, there are already plenty of rumors about the upcoming software update. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors so far. visionOS-Like Design In January, the YouTube channel Front Page Tech revealed a redesigned Camera app that is allegedly planned for iOS 19. According to Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, the Camera app...
iOS 18

Top 5 New Features Coming in iOS 18.4

Friday March 21, 2025 3:26 pm PDT by
We're not getting new Siri Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.4 as expected, but the upcoming update does have quite a few new additions that will be worth upgrading for. We've rounded up the five best features to look forward to, and if you're not running the beta, you can expect to get access to these in early April. Priority Notifications If you have an iPhone or iPad that supports...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Release Candidate With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and More

Monday March 24, 2025 10:07 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. With iOS 18.4, Apple is adding the Priority Notifications...
airpods max 2024 colors

Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio

Monday March 24, 2025 4:24 pm PDT by
Apple today announced that AirPods Max with a USB-C port will be gaining support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with a firmware update next month, alongside the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. For context, audio files are typically compressed to keep file sizes smaller. There are lossy compression standards like MP3, and Apple's own Advanced Audio Codec...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Foldable iPhone Expected to Launch Next Year, Costing Around $2,000

Monday March 24, 2025 3:43 am PDT by
Apple will launch its long-rumored foldable iPhone next year with a ~$2,000 premium price tag attached, expects well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Gurman's comments on Apple's launch plans for its first foldable device appeared in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter. Earlier this month, the reporter said Apple's foldable iPhone could be arriving "as early as 2026,"...