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Facebook Live – the social network’s new live-streaming video feature – is now up and running around the world.
It enables users to stream whatever they’re doing to friends, or even all 1.6 billion users of the platform, simply by tapping the new ‘Go Live’ button that now appears in the status update section alongside the options to write a post or upload photos.
But here, you’re now sending video out to the world.
Facebook is keen to get this feature global and growing as quickly as possible, so has also introduced a Live Map, showing off everyone who is streaming publicly right and where in the world they are.
The level of creativity of those going live varies wildly – from pitch black rooms with people asleep in them to live streaming someone getting a tattoo or DJ-ing in their bedroom. The UK also appeared to be home to a lot of live make-up tutorials, though this might not be too surprising given how huge a market that already is on YouTube, and that Facebook Live can be sent out into the world without having to go back an edit then post the video. For those looking to post quick-fire content, it will appeal.
Indeed, such market already exists in the form of Twitter-owned Periscope, another live-streaming service, and rival Meerkat. To a lesser extend the short, sharp videos and photos that can be put into a Snapchat story also fit into this space too, so a lot of Facebook users should already be familiar with the idea.
For those less confident, you can make streams private until you get the hang of what you’re doing.
