Facebook Launches New Full-Screen Video Player, Uniting Reels, Long Videos & Live Streams
Facebook has announced several updates to its videos, including an improved video player that features Reels, long videos, and live streams in a fullscreen view. The video player will recommend videos, regardless of type, to users based on their preferences. However, due to high demand, users can expect to see more Reel content generally.
Other updates include enhanced controls such as the ability to watch horizontal videos in full screen by rotating the device and sliders for video navigation.
Facebook notes that these updates will affect creator earnings from monetization tools like ads on Facebook Reels and Instream Ads. Earnings may increase for some creators, while others might experience a decrease.
To adapt to the update, Facebook advises creators to focus on storytelling, experiment with Reels, create longer videos, share platform-native content, and drive engagement through reactions, comments, and shares.
Initially, these updates will be available on iOS and Android devices in the US and Canada, with a global rollout planned for later.
Why It Matters: These updates position Facebook competitively against TikTok and YouTube, both of which support personalized feeds showcasing different types of videos. Similar to these platforms, Facebook's updates simplify the process for creators to share video content and for viewers to discover and consume it in one place.
From TikTok featuring horizontal videos in its feed to YouTube adding Live to its Shorts feed to Snapchat rolling out longer videos and LinkedIn testing a dedicated Video tab for short-form video, platforms are trying to become the place for all video content, not just short-form video, long-form video, or live.
Because of the competition for video content overall and not a specific kind, creators that leverage all video content formats are likely to benefit most in terms of discovery, performance, and monetization. However, creators focusing only on one format may find their reach and revenue opportunities limited.
