As if you didn't already have more than enough options on your phone to upload short videos and photos of your day for friends to see, now there's another: Facebook's mobile app.
On Tuesday the social network announced it's bringing into its main app a new Stories feature that allows photos and videos to be shared "as part of a visual collection atop News Feed." Facebook is unapologetic about ripping off this feature from Snapchat; the social media giant already integrated Stories ripoffs into three other apps it owns: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. And now, the feature is headed to Facebook's most prominent mobile property.
Like on Snapchat and Facebook's other apps, Stories posted to the main Facebook app will disappear after 24 hours. Stories won't appear on your Timeline or in News Feed unless you post them there, too.
If using Snapchat or Instagram, you probably already know how the process works: just tap the "Your Story" icon in the new Stories bar at the top of News Feed to post something. You can post photos and videos to your Story for all friends to see, or share content with specific friends via the Direct option. If you send it Direct to specific people, they'll be able to view your message once and replay it or write a reply.
"Over the coming months, we plan to introduce new ways for the Facebook community to create their own frames and effects that can be used on any photo or video created with the new Facebook camera," Facebook Product Manager Connor Hayes wrote in the announcement. "Our goal is for the camera to be a home to hundreds of dynamic and fun effects that give you new ways to connect with friends, family, and your community."
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Along those lines, Facebook also today introduced some new Snapchat-like camera effects. Starting this week on iOS and Android, you can tap the camera icon on the top left corner of the Facebook app or swipe right from News Feed to try out the new in-app camera.
"The Facebook camera is packed with dozens of effects like masks, frames and interactive filters that you can apply to your photos and videos," Hayes wrote. "Reactive effects let you interact with dynamic objects— like falling snow—and style effects apply an artistic filter to your video in real time, letting you turn your everyday selfie into a Picasso-style work of art."
Also expect some brand-themed masks for upcoming movies such as Alien: Covenant, Despicable Me 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Power Rangers, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Wonder Woman. Facebook promised to "regularly refresh the creative effects in the camera" to keep you coming back, just like Snapchat does.
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