Facebook shuts down its Creative Labs division

Social networking giant Facebook has decided to call it a day for its experimental division Creative Labs.

Founded two years ago as a start-up within the company, it built a series of experimental social apps designed to test new interfaces and interaction patterns.

But the experiments have come to an end: Facebook said on Tuesday that the division has been closed. As a result, a number of apps developed by it are being discontinued, The Verge reported.

"Since their launches, we've incorporated elements of Slingshot, Riff and Rooms into the Facebook for iOS and Android apps," a Facebook spokeswoman was quoted as saying.

"We haven't updated these apps in some time and we've decided to officially end support by removing them from the App Store and Google Play," she added.

However, Slingshot and Riff will continue to work for those who have already downloaded them.

Facebook said no one was laid off as part of the division's shutdown.