Facebook Mentions and Live are now available for verified profiles. Facebook’s new features are aimed at journalists and the social media behemoth wants reporters to use their new tools.
Basically, Facebook gives journalists the ability to stream live on Facebook.
In a statement today, the company notes that experts, journalists and other influencers, who are verified, now have access to Facebook Mentions – an app which was formerly available only to a select few celebrities.
Q&A sessions, live breaking news reports, behind the scenes and countless other possibilities for free, Facebook notes.
Vadim Lavrusik, the company’s product manager for Facebook Mentions, notes that they want people to use Facebook for news-gathering and to better connect readers with journalists.
Facebook’s new app lets its user monitor what people have to say about them. The app offers the ability to easily follow certain topics of interest, observe what’s trending on Facebook, and choose with whom to share their content.
Anyone can apply for Facebook Mentions, but the company notes that only those who qualify will be approved to use their app. However, nobody knows the criteria for approval. Facebook will most likely release a guideline for applying to Mentions in the near future.
Yet, livestreaming isn’t that popular. Sure, in Silicon Valley it’s the hot new trend that everyone goes crazy about, but for the rest of the world – radio silence.
Facebook has the perfect platform to make livestreaming possible. With their 1.5 billion monthly users, they are in an unique position to make this happen. Frankly, they are the only ones who can do it.
Ricky Gervais, a prominent Facebook Mentions user.
The time is ripe for livestreaming.
Twitter acquired livestreaming service Periscope earlier this year and YouTube is taking it more seriously now with their YouTube Gaming side. Twitch is a different kind of beast in this scenario.
Ricky Gervais, a beloved comedian and extrovert, has used Facebook Mentions to give viewers a sneak peak of his life, a behind the scenes VIP pass if you like. He seems to enjoy his popularity and the exposure he gets. What extrovert wouldn’t?
But, do we really want Fox News livestreaming their ignorant journalism? What does this imply for the average Joe? Is Facebook going to transform into a news riddled platform, or it will somewhat divide itself in the near future?
Real time coverage of news sounds great, but we all know how media twists and turns every little thing. If you can do something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should do it.
We’ll keep a close eye on Facebook Mentions and we won’t sugarcoat what problems there are bound to happen.
