Facebook is testing a Snapchat-like camera in News Feed
In its bid to become more like Snapchat, Facebook is finally putting its MSQRD acquisition to good use.
The social network is testing a new feature that puts a Snapchat-like camera at the top of News Feed, allowing users to add filters and animations to their selfies. The test is limited to users in Canda and Brazil right now and will feature content celebrating the Olympics.
The test is powered by MSQRD, the Snapchat-like app for video filters Facebook acquired earlier this year.
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Users in Brazil and Canada will see a prompt to "celebrate the Olympic Games" using the new camera feature. Launching the camera allows you to add filters and "masks" (MSQRD's name for the Snapchat-like lenses) to their photos, which they can then share across Facebook.
The feature is only an experiment for now and whether or not Facebook expands it to more people in more countries will likely depend on how it's received during the initial testing period. The test is also notable in that it marks MSQRD's formal debut in a Facebook product. Even if it's not successful though, this will not be the last time we see the company integrate MSQRD into one of its services, as Facebook previously announced it would integrate MSQRD's filters with its live streaming platform.
The test also comes on the heels of Instagram's new Stories feature, which many see as its most blatant attempt at copying Snapchat yet. (Facebook says both Instagram Stories and this latest test in News Feed are all part of its current strategy to put video front and center in as many places as it can.)
But Facebook may find the feature to be a hard sell with users who may be growing weary of the network's repeated attempts at cloning Snapchat. The company previously launched (and shuttered) two standalone apps that were Snapchat clones. It also made efforts to build similar features into its main apps, testing a Snapchat-like feature called Quick Updates that it decided not to launch. And a report earlier this year suggested Facebook is working on yet another standalone camera app to get more users to share photo and video.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
