Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is working on a new feature that will allow users to include Olympics 2016-themed filters when they take selfies.
The feature will be launched in Brazil and Canada as one of the ways the company seeks to make the best of the Olympic hype. It is also part of Facebook’s plan to encourage users to take more selfies. However, to most people, this will appear as if the company is copying Snapchat. The latter already has a similar feature that allows people to include filters in their selfies. Nonetheless, this is not the first time that the company has copied Snapchat and Facebook has even stated that it is following in the competitor’s footsteps.
SachinMonga, the product manager at Facebook stated that Snapchat has done a good job by coming up with a modern composer. He further added that the feature has promoted a change towards the next visual sharing. The new feature will be called CameraFeed and there is no news on whether it will feature a permanent launch in the future. A Facebook spokesperson revealed that it is currently experimental, meaning it might only be available during the Olympics season. It will be available for Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google Android and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS users.
The new feature will take advantage of the MSQRD’s object recognition technology similar to that used by Snapchat to include an animated selfie filter. The new addition will allow users to access face paints such as “Go Canada” or the Brazilian flag on their face. Facebook claims that the feature will be available throughout the duration of the Olympics, thus hinting that it will no longer be available after that.
Monga also talked about how the company has focused on making it easier for users to share photos and videos on the platform. Facebook is planning to use this strategy to counter the declining popularity of original content on its social sites.