Facebook offering $200 to users to test out Slingshot

Facebook is offering $200 to users to test out its new photo-messaging app Slingshot, Sky News reported.

According to the social network participants would need to devote "about 1-2 hours per week" to the study over a three-month period.

The role is likely to involve giving feedback and opinions on the use of the app, and testing functionality.

Facebook recently came under fire for experimenting on its users without their knowledge and without payment. This time around it was offering cash upfront.

Users interested in taking part would need to fill out a survey on the company's Slingshot blog asking them how often they sent photos and videos, how many people they communicated with on average, and what other social apps they used.

Slingshot was launched in June to take on popular app Snapchat, in which users send and receive self-deleting images that disappear after a few seconds.

Facebook offered $3 billion for Snapchat late last year, but was turned down (See: Photo-messaging startup Snapchat rejects Facebook's $3 bn bid: report).

The social network attempted to take on Snapchat directly in December 2012 with an app called Poke, which proved to be a non-starter and had to be removed from the app store in May.

Meanwhile, users in three countries -- South Africa, Singapore and the Philippines - are the first to get to use Instagram's new ephemeral messaging app, "Bolt", ABC News reports.

Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion in April 2012 (Facebook to acquire photo-sharing app maker Instagram for $1 bn).

The three countries were chosen for their geographical diversity and engagement within their communities.

The Verge quoted an Instagram spokespman as saying the company would be going to other regions soon, but was starting with a handful of countries to make sure it could scale the experience.

He added, Instagram had 65 per cent of its users overseas, so an international launch, was actually not out of place with what it did.

The app allows users to sign up with their phone number and find friends through their contacts. There was also a favorites bar that held up to four friends, but allowed users to add up to 20.

Users need to simply hold down on a friend's photo and once they lifted their finger, the media was sent to a friend.

The concept though simple, has its own upside and downside. Unlike Snapchat and other ephemeral messaging competitors, it features an option to undo an accidental "Bolt" by shaking the phone after it was sent.