Facebook Unveils New Fullscreen Video Player for Enhanced Viewing Experience
In a bid to provide users with a more seamless and engaging video experience, Facebook is rolling out a revamped, fullscreen video player on Wednesday. The new player, initially launching in the U.S. and Canada, aims to deliver a consistent design and experience across various video formats, including short-form Reels, long-form videos, and live content, as stated in the company’s announcement.
Streamlined Video Watching and Sharing
The upgraded player seeks to simplify the process of watching and sharing video content on the platform. Notably, the player will default to displaying videos in vertical mode, similar to TikTok, while also enabling Facebook to suggest the most relevant video to watch next, regardless of its length or format.
Potential Impact on Key Metrics
This change could potentially influence crucial factors that creators and advertisers prioritize, such as watch time, view count, reach, and more. For Facebook, an increase in video consumption on the platform may lead to longer time spent on-site, as well as higher advertising views and clicks, among other benefits.
Enhanced Video Recommendations
The improved video recommendations will extend beyond the player, appearing on the Facebook Feed and Video tab. Additionally, Facebook plans to showcase more Reels to users, acknowledging the growing demand for short-form audio content.
Image Credits: Meta
New Controls and Features
The upgraded player will introduce new controls, such as a fullscreen mode for horizontal videos and a slider for navigating through longer videos. Users will also be able to tap on the video to access additional options, like pausing and skipping forward or backward by 10 seconds.
Image Credits: Meta
Capturing the Attention of Younger Audiences
While Facebook’s popularity among Gen Z has waned over the past decade, as reported by NBC News, recent trends suggest that young people are rediscovering the platform for its Marketplace feature, as highlighted by The New York Times. This presents an opportunity for Facebook to capture their attention through other means, such as Gen Z’s preferred social format: video.
Moreover, there are indications that Gen Z is reviving old Facebook features, like the ”Facebook poke,” as reported by NBC News. In March, Facebook announced a 13x increase in pokes over the previous month.
Potential Impact of TikTok Ban
The introduction of the new video player comes at a time when U.S. lawmakers are considering a potential TikTok ban. If implemented, this could lead to an increase in video consumption on alternative social platforms, making Facebook’s video player upgrade a timely move.
4 Comments
Facebook’s stepping into TikTok’s turf now—let the battle of the vertical videos begin!
Another day, another attempt to keep up with the cool kids, am I right?
Looks like Facebook’s trying to ride the TikTok wave with that vertical video player, interesting move!
Facebook’s going vertical now? TikTok better watch its back!