Facebook Have Introduced a Slew of New Features to Messenger Video Chat
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Included in the update are filters, augmented reality masks and reactions. Starting from the top, the filters enable users to change the colour palette and lighting of the video feed. The masks, meanwhile, behave in the same way the ones on Snapchat do, overlaying the video feed with various animations which change according to how you move, this can vary from graphics which change the shape of your face to cascading objects like stars and bubbles.
The reactions are tethered to the reaction emojis that you see on the standard Facebook platform; selecting one of them brings up a set of custom filters which correspond to that particular emotion. Basically, they grant you a more visually interesting way than just using a standard emoji. It's a nice addition, but it's hard not to point out that however sophisticated it is, this is video chat we're talking about, and most people are availed of a face. Those are quite good for reacting with.
Finally, there's now dedicated screenshot button so that you don't have to use your phone's in-built screenshot tool if you want to save images of a video chat. Smaller but more practical changes like this tend to be the ones that get the best response, and Messenger has already been criticised by some for being too cluttered.
That being said, it's the teen audience that Facebook are trying to lure in here, and fun features like this are a proven winner among the younger crowd. There are plenty of stripped down, function over form video chat services out there, Facebook have nothing to gain from sticking to that blueprint. The risk of annoying those who already found the app too confusing is certainly present, but Facebook have historically struggled to appeal to teenagers, so a few annoyed old schoolers in favour of a better rep among the fidget spinning demographic probably won't bother them much.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @Songbird_Callum
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Facebook Have Introduced a Slew of New Features to Messenger Video Chat
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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Unknown
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