30/03/2017 Tech Time – Facebook Stories
After months of speculation, Facebook finally did what many had thought they’d do by introducing ‘Stories’ to it’s flagship product; the last of it’s core products to receive the update. If you’re familiar with Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger then you’re already very familiar with ‘Facebook Stories’.
According to Facebook, stories has become a format for people to share and consume immersive video and photo across all of it’s social apps. “it really differs for them [it’s user] based on the network they have or the way that they use a certain app.” says Conor Hayes, a Facebook Product Manager.
In the 7 months since Instagram introduced ‘Stories’ it has built up an active user base of 150 million daily users (37.5% of its total 400 million daily active users). Currently ‘Facebook Stories’ is limited to its mobile app, but with Facebook’s 1.15 billion mobile daily active users, ‘Stories’ daily active user base will surely surpass that of both Instagram and Snapchat (158M daily active users).
Facebook is also introducing ‘Camera Effects’ which work the same way as lenses on Snapchat. Currently, Facebook has announced lenses for 6 upcoming theatrical releases – Alien: Covenant, Despicable Me 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Power Rangers, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Wonder Woman.
Currently, ‘Facebook Stories’ does not offer advertisers an option to buy mid-roll ads like Instagram Stories, but we expect that in the coming months once ‘Stories’ has established itself, Facebook will then open up the service to advertisers much like they did with Stories on Instagram.
To find out more about Instagram Stories and why it’s great for advertisers check out our previous #WednesdayWisdom on Instagram.