Social media giant Facebook has removed Slingshot from the App Store after prematurely launching the app on Monday.

A Snapchat rival, the app allows users to snap a photo or record a video to share with friends. Just like its competitor, you can draw or write on images ¨C meaning you are still able to draw a beard over the self-deprecating selfie you sent to your BFF.

However, unlike Snapchat, friends can¡¯t see your message until they ¡®sling¡¯ something your way. After opening a message, you may then respond with a reaction. As of yet, it is not known if there will be a viewing time limit for each image.

¡°Earlier today, we accidentally released a version of Slingshot, a new app we¡¯re working on,¡± said a Facebook spokesperson. ¡°With Slingshot, you¡¯ll be able to share everyday moments with lots of people at once. It¡¯ll be ready soon and we¡¯re excited for you to try it out.¡±

Before it was retracted, Slingshot appeared to only be available to users in certain regions including Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand. It would seem that these were the regions with earlier time zones.

Whether it was the case of a developer pressing the ¡°launch¡± button prematurely or setting the wrong date, someone from the Facebook development team is undoubtedly face-palming over that blunder.

The launch follows Facebook¡¯s decision to kill off their app Poke, without so much as a farewell message. Poke, which according to Mark Zuckerberg was always ¡°more of a joke¡± than anything else, was canned last week after one year on the App Store shelf.

Hence, judging from the flop that was Poke, it¡¯ll take a lot more than a bunch of talented developers and Facebook¡¯s reputation to rival Snapchat. Facebook did not offer additional comments regarding the error, however Slingshot is set to re-launch in the coming days.