Just last month, Facebook announced that it was going to be making some significant changes to its mobile apps. Facebook live tab (a live streaming service) would now take center stage in the Messenger app, which means the moving to the side of the Messenger tab.
This new tab would offer users a dedicated place to find Facebook live videos and even stream their own. However, it has been nearly a month since we found out about this change and so-far very few users have seen the change.
As of today though, my Android Messenger installation received an update. I have spent some time with and can tell you that this new feature could seriously change the way people use Facebook.
As you’ve probably already guessed this new position of Facebook Live in Messengers top navigation bar means a shift in focus by Facebook. The Messenger tab now seems to be of lower priority since its move to the right of the navigation area.
For Facebook this is a real shift into the realms of serving up user generated video. If not it’s certainly a strategic one aimed at keeping its user base engaged with the opportunity of seeing their own videos live for others to view and the possibility of becoming what has been dubbed as “Facebook Famous”
How does it Work?
Clicking on the Facebook Live tab takes you to, what seems like a never ending list of user generated video. The app at this point sports a very dark look not like anything else I have seen in a Facebook Android app.
I’m guessing that the content showed to a user is generated by Facebooks secret algorithm. As I was served a mix of whatever was popular at the time had been popular in the 24 hours prior. As I scrolled through them each one as I passed would come to life playing briefly until I had moved on. Clicking on any live video lets you comment and react right there and then “Live” at the same time as other users are commenting away, it seems somewhat frantic!
How about the Guide
If you would rather not see a random amount of videos based on what seems like random topics, there is the choice to click on the guide tab in the top right of the app. Doing so will allow you to choose from categories such as TV & Movies, Politics, Arts & Culture, Food, Science & Tech, World News, Health and Fitness and more!
It’s easy to set any of these categories as your favourites but clicking on the “+” from within the topics themselves. This way Facebook Live will show you more of the video you actually want to view instead of a jumbled mess of clutter.
However, it’s early days for this new feature of the app so there is the possibility that not all categories will be full of content to view.
If you need to update or download the Messenger App to take advantage of Facebook Live, you can do so via GooglePlay.
