Facebook Starts Testing TikTok-Style ‘Short Videos’ Feature in App

Facebook is testing a brand new ‘Short Videos’ characteristic inside its app in a bid to money in on the TikTok ban in India and proposed ban within the US. This new characteristic exhibits up in the midst of the News Feed and works in the same swipe-up method as was standard on TikTok. Facebook lately launched Instagram Reels as its reply to TikTok’s recognition, and now it appears to be like to introduce the identical characteristic into Facebook as nicely. We aren’t positive concerning the scope of testing for this characteristic, however we have been in a position to spot it on the most recent model of Facebook on an Android gadget.

Social media guru Matt Navarra first tweeted that the social media large is testing this new ‘Short Videos’ characteristic contained in the Facebook app. This characteristic is similar to TikTok’s model of video format together with the swipe-up scroll for subsequent video. We have been in a position to spot this characteristic in our Facebook app as nicely and it appears to be out there for Indian customers largely. However, it might not be out there for all customers in India and Facebook could be testing it with a subset of customers earlier than rolling it out commercially.

When requested for a remark, a Facebook spokesperson stated through e-mail: “We’re always testing new creative tools so we can learn about how people want to express themselves. Short form videos are extremely popular and we are looking at new ways to provide this experience for people to connect, create and share on Facebook.”

The ‘Short Videos’ part has a really TikTok-like interface, with likes and feedback positioned within the backside proper nook. There is a Create possibility on the prime and clicking on it for the primary time exhibits a brand new Facebook Camera with an outline that reads, “Create and share short videos, and explore new ways to express yourself.” This new ‘Short Videos’ characteristic permits you to add music to your recorded clip, pause and document identical to how TikTok allowed it, and share it in-app. Once posted, this video then exhibits up within the ‘Short Videos’ part on Facebook.

This new ‘Short Videos’ characteristic comes weeks after Facebook introduced Instagram Reels as its reply to the TikTok ban in India. The app is now wanting at a ban in the US as nicely, and creators on the TikTok platform must leap ship to different media to proceed creating content material and amassing followers. Facebook is trying to be that new residence for these creators, and a number of Indian creators have already begun creating content material on Instagram Reels and should now cross publish it on Facebook as nicely.

In 2020, will WhatsApp get the killer characteristic that each Indian is ready for? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly know-how podcast, which you’ll be able to subscribe to through Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button beneath.