Facebook has apparently deleted the newly launched social app Social Roulette in which players have a one-in-six chance of getting their accounts deleted.
The social app was launched as an online version of Russian roulette on Saturday. The app deletes one in six user account data. In real-life game of Russian roulette, the player places a single bullet in a six-chamber revolver pistol, spins the cylinder and tries to fires at the head. If the player dies, he loses. But in Social Roulette, which is intended for those looking to burn their accounts, getting shot means victory. This will enable the user to delete posts, likes, friends, shares, photos, apps and games even though the account is not permanently deleted.
What if the player survives? A post will appear saying that he is alive, tempting other friends to risk their own digital lives. The app lays down two rules to play - one is that the user must play with their own account and second that it should be played just once a day.
"Everyone thinks about deleting their account at some point, it's completely normal reaction to the overwhelming nature of digital culture. Is it time to consider a new development in your life? Are you looking for the opportunity to start fresh? Or are you just seeking cheap thrills at the expense of your social network? Maybe it's time for you to play Social Roulette," said Social Roulette developers in a statement.
Facebook has not just deleted the app but also strongly justified its action. In a statement published in Social Media Promotions, Facebook said it has taken action against applications that violate platform policies, in order "to maintain a trustworthy experience for users".
But it didn't specify which policy was violated. However, the app has allowed users to circumvent Facebook's account deactivation feature, which is designed to let people turn off their accounts and return back without losing their content and connections. This slightly deviates from the platform policy 1.3 that maintains: "You must not circumvent or claim to circumvent) our intended limitations on core Facebook features and functionality."
But Social Roulette doesn't appear to be giving up so easily and seem to be on a lookout for a fight, while strongly promoting its survivor's T-shirt.
