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Facebook on Wednesday announced a massive new update to Facebook Live, its livestreaming application that competes directly with other services such as Periscope.<\/p>\n
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The update includes a ton of new features, so we\u2019ll focus on the big ones that matter. First, users can now create specific events and groups that they\u2019ll be able to broadcast to. That means you don\u2019t have to broadcast to everyone in your network, just a select few who might care to watch you make an attempt at swallowing\u00a0a flaming sword for the first time.<\/p>\n
Viewers will like the next new feature: the option to replay video, comment on it, apply live filters and react in real-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cLive Reactions appear in real time and disappear quickly so broadcasters and other viewers can get a sense of how people are feeling at different points during the live video \u2013 it\u2019s like hearing the crowd applaud and cheer,\u201d Facebook said. \u201cWhen your friend reacts\u00a0to your video or to a video you are both watching together you\u2019ll see their profile pic and a little starburst before their reaction appears.\u201d That\u2019s sort of like the heart bursts that appear when people react to videos on Periscope.<\/p>\n
Nobody watching you live? The app now has a feature that lets you invite people directly to the livestream.<\/p>\n
Finally, Facebook Live now has a dedicated spot inside of Facebook\u2019s mobile applications. And, again, just like Periscope, on desktop computers you can tap that tab to see public live streams on a map of the world, allowing you to quickly jump in on the action.<\/p>\n
The new features will hit iOS and Android versions of Facebook in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n