Snapchat vs. Facebook Poke: are either useful for business?

Snapchat vs. Facebook Poke app

Two similar apps have recently been released – Snapchat and the Facebook Poke app. The Snapchat app was released first and Facebook followed suit shortly thereafter. Both apps allow users to send self-destructing photo and video messages, and both include the following features: a user can choose how long the receiver can view the message before it’s erased, photos and videos can be written over in a variety of colors, and subscribers are notified when someone screenshots a message before it’s deleted.

While there are many similarities – so many, in fact, that most believe Facebook copied Snapchat – there are also several differences between the two apps:

• Messages sent through Snapchat can be accessible anywhere from one to ten seconds after being opened. Poke only allows a few options rather than a full range.
• Both apps are supposed to destroy and delete messages after the allotted time’s up, but Snapchat is the only one that has confirmed that messages are deleted from their servers almost instantly. Facebook Poke stores all messages for about two days. However, if a message has been reported as abusive, Facebook will keep it for 90 days, which defeats the whole purpose.
• Facebook Poke allows you to send videos, pictures, and regular text messages, and Snapchat only allows videos and pictures.
• If you’re looking for anonymity, Snapchat will be the best choice. Snapchat users can choose their own usernames. On the other hand, Facebook Poke automatically connects your Poke account with your regular Facebook account. This means your real name and contact information is shown.
• Because Facebook Poke is linked to your personal Facebook account, all your Facebook friends who have Poke are automatically your friends there, too. Snapchat, on the other hand, let’s you decide who you want to be friends with, as it’s not attached to any of your previously-established accounts.

So should you invest business time into either app?

Facebook Poke is much like your Facebook experience, as it’s all the same people posting the same types of things. However, Snapchat has a reputation of the prime place for sexting, which make sense since you can use a random username and no one knows who you are. And because photos and videos get deleted right away, it’s more inviting for those types of activities.

Even so, Snapchat can theoretically be a useful tool in the professional world. Let’s say you’re looking for honest feedback about a logo or packaging for a new product, Snapchat might be the service to use. Facebook Poke and Snapchat are just two more ways to instantly connect with those around you and those who are continents away, but our overall assessment is that both serve as novelties that aren’t worth investing your business time in.