Facebook announced on Wednesday that it is adding new features to Facebook Live, which launched in August 2015 to a select group of celebrities and later rolled out to the general public in over 60 countries.
The update to the live streaming feature will allow users to use the streaming platform in Facebook Groups and Events. According to Facebook, Live in Groups will let users broadcast to members of a particular Facebook Group, while Live in Events allows users to share footage like sneak peaks and Q&A’s. “We hope this new ability to both broadcast and watch live video within Groups and Events enables people to connect more deeply with their closest friends, family and the communities of people who share their interests,” wrote Facebook in a statement.
There will be interactive elements like live reactions and filters. “Live video on Facebook is truly interactive as broadcasters engage with their commenters and respond to their suggestions and questions,” wrote Facebook. “In fact, from initial data, we’ve seen that people comment more than 10 times more on Facebook Live videos than on regular videos. We want people watching the broadcast after the fact to feel “in” on the action. To achieve this, we will replay comments as they happened during the live broadcast when people watch it later.”
Additionally, users can now invite friends to watch a live stream and there will be “a dedicated place on Facebook’s mobile app where you can discover live video that the world is talking about, live video from the friends and creators that matter most to you, and live video on topics you’re interested in.” This feature of the mobile app will let users search for live videos (and non-live videos) and let users go live all from the convenient click of the new video icon button in the app.
For desktop users, the social media platform is releasing Facebook Live Map. This interactive map visualizes searches for public live broadcasts, so users can explore content from other users around the world.
“We’ve been humbled by all the amazing and creative ways that people have used Facebook Live so far, and we’re committed to creating the best experience for everyone who wants to create, watch and interact with live videos on Facebook,” said Fidji Simo, the Product Management Director at Facebook. “These features will be rolling out on iOS and Android over the coming weeks. We’ll keep working to bring you the best ways to broadcast, interact with, and discover live video. Stay tuned.”
