Facebook launched a new app called Riff, which it describes as a “creative tool” for making videos with friends. And no, it doesn’t appear to be an April Fools’ Day joke. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s less of a joke than Slingshot.

The app is actually available for both Android and iOS right out of the gate too.

“Anyone can start by creating a video,” explains product manager Josh Miler. “All you have to do is give it a topic, like #AprilFools, then your friends can view it and choose to add their own clips on that topic. Once a friend adds a clip to your video, your friend’s friends will also be shown the video in Riff and will be able to add to it. The potential pool of creative collaborators can grow exponentially from there, so a short video can become an inventive project between circles of friends that you can share to Facebook, or anywhere on the internet, at any time.”

“We regularly feature awesome videos to show to people on Riff,” he adds.

He says you can get some ideas by looking at this featured video from the cast of An American in Paris on Broadway.

The app description sums it up:

Just start a video, say what it’s about and post it on Riff. Anyone can see your videos, but your friends can add to them, and then their friends can add to them, and then their friends… You get the picture!

To use it, just log in with Facebook to see videos by friends on Riff or start a video you want people to add to. You can browse for videos you want to add your own clips to, and check out other featured videos. The idea is apparently to see how far your own videos spread.

The app comes from Facebook Creative Labs, which is responsible for other apps like Slingshot, Paper, Mentions, Rooms, and Groups.

Images via Facebook