This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
Facebook has made a bold move into the world of memes with the release of its new app, Whale. The app, which is currently available only in Canada, allows users to create and share memes with ease.
According to The Information, Whale is the work of Facebook's internal testing group, New Product Experimentation (NPE). The NPE team was first announced in July this year, with the sole purpose of making experimental consumer apps.
“NPE Team apps will be aligned with Facebook’s mission of giving people the power to build community but will focus on shipping entirely new experiences. We decided to use this separate brand name to help set the appropriate expectations with users that NPE Team apps will change very rapidly and will be shut down if we learn that they’re not useful to people,” said Facebook.
Whale is not the only app from the NPE team, with two other apps, Aux and Bump, also available. Aux is a social music listening app, while Bump is a chat app aimed at students.
Facebook's release of Whale comes as the company faces increasing competition in the social media and communications space. The company is investing heavily in apps, with a focus on creating new and innovative experiences for users.
Whale is available for download on the App Store, but only in the Canadian App Store at this time. It remains to be seen when the app will be rolled out in other countries.
With its range of features, including text, images, emojis, filters, and popular effects, Whale is set to become a popular tool for meme creators. The app's freeform drawing tool and filters, including laser eyes, will also appeal to users who want to add a bit of creativity to their memes.
As Facebook continues to invest in apps, it will be interesting to see how Whale performs in the market. With the rise of TikTok and other social media platforms, Facebook is under pressure to create new and innovative experiences for its users.
