Facebook testing self-destructing status

Statuses that can be up to 101 characters long and self-destruct after a set amount of time are coming to Facebook. The company confirmed that it will begin testing them this week.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the social network is testing “ephemeral statuses,” which allow users to post status updates of up to 101 characters. The feature, which went live late last week, harks back to Facebook’s early days, when the News Feed was filled with status updates instead of the videos, links, and ads it is today.

All Facebook statuses start with “is,” such as “I’m doing something.” Facebook says the update helps friends see what users are doing or feeling at the moment they post. They can set an expiration date for their statuses and choose whether they appear in their News Feed or just on their profile.

In 2016, Facebook attempted to address its “original content” problem after noticing that people were posting less and less on the platform. The introduction of Facebook Live and then the Snapchat Stories clone My Day helped, but the company’s main product has never regained its original feel. Self-destructing statuses may be a small step in that journey for Facebook.

According to ictnews