Facebook on Friday released a Snapchat-like app called Poke, which allows users to send private messages that expire after 1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Less than 24 hours later, it is already the number one most downloaded app on Apple’s marketplace, less than 24 hours after it became available. While we don’t necessarily expect Poke to remain as number one, it’s clear that the Facebook effect is still going strong. Facebook doesn’t even have to release a particularly exciting or unique app: Snapchat clearly already exists. The fact is a critical mass will download and try it simply because it comes from the social network. Poke has received a 3.5/5 star rating on the US App Store from 241 ratings, which isn’t as great as Google Maps, but then again it was built in just 12 days.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.