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Facebook knows Snapchat is a major rival in the social media stakes, particularly among younger users, and its latest app launch is another challenge to the rival service.
Lifestage has just been rolled out in the US, and it appears to be the closest Facebook has come to replicating a Snapchat-like service.
Lifestage is video-first, with users updating their current status using video rather than the text that Facebook is known for in this situation.
When first setting up the app, users are asked to create a profile video made up of several short pieces that are stitched together to make a final video used to sum the user up. The idea is to show off the things you might ‘Like’ normally in video rather than just text or a still image.
There’s plenty of emoji in the menus too, just to reaffirm that this is very much being aimed at millenials.
Facebook-owned Instagram has already raised a few eyebrows for what have been seen as updates specifically aimed at taking on Snapchat – most notably the recent introduction of video Stories, similar to those already in use at the centre of Snapchat.
Video is of course a huge media for younger web users, with most likely to already be using services such as Snapchat, but also vlogging on YouTube and elsewhere. Live streaming services such as Facebook Live and Twitter’s Periscope have become increasingly popular mediums over the past year, too.
Facebook’s move to offer a quick, editable video platform to match its rivals shouldn’t perhaps come as too much of a surprise then. Though UK-based Facebook users will have to wait a little while, as for now the app is only available in the US.
