Facebook launches Halloween-themed camera features, backgrounds, game
If you're not in the Halloween spirit, Facebook is here to help.
The social network is unveiling several features to spook up your news feed, camera, and Messenger.
Starting today, Facebook is sending notifications to inform people of Halloween events near them. There are more than 500,000 of these parties and get-togethers planned around the world.
But that's not all. Starting Oct. 27, you'll be able to add three Halloween-themed backgrounds to your text posts.
The backgrounds feature a classic cast of bats, zombies, spiders, and jack-o-lanterns.
You'll be able to impress your friends with a slew of festive camera features. If you access your camera from the Facebook app, you can decorate your photos, video chat, and live video with over a dozen creepy masks, stickers, and filters.
Starting Oct. 25, you can also try on costumes on Messenger's camera, or scare your friends with them on Messenger video chat.
To top it off, starting Oct. 27, there will be a Halloween game hidden in your camera. You'll play the role of a trick-or-treater trying to escape a haunted house.
All features will be available through Halloween itself.
Facebook claims that Halloween is one of the top content-generating holidays of the year. And with competitors such as Snapchat releasing Halloween-themed geofilters and virtual trick-or-treating experiences, it was only a matter of time before Facebook jumped to emphasize the holiday to its users. Enjoy the photo effects with your friends, and best of luck surviving that house.
Topics Facebook Snapchat Social Media
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
