Facebook has reported that they are getting about 8 billion video views on the website per day, and it looks like they want to expand even more. The social media website is rolling out a new ‘click for more’ feature to boost video views.
Facebook Video Click For More Is Coming After YouTube
Since a lot of content can be shared on Facebook, the platform has decided it is time to expand video services. The Click for More will be viewable from anywhere on the video being watched, and it will take users on new windows for more browsing. Video screens are bigger in the update, and it features a dimmer background. Users will also be able to see related videos and ads. Like YouTube, Facebook videos will also feature autoplay, but users will also be able to choose what to play next.
Facebook declared that this was the web test that the company hinted at in October. In addition to new video features coming out for iOS, Facebook is also expanding their live video so it’s on all Verified Pages. Facebook wants to increase time spent on the social media website since videos will be a sure way to keep people on the website longer. While it may not be a reason why people will go directly to Facebook, it’ll increase the average time spent there.
The New Feature Comes After Bringing In ‘Watch Later’ for Videos
Facebook is also looking for more video advertising on the platform. A lot of the bigger brands are branching out to different media to advertise, and they and Facebook would mutually benefit from advertising on the social network. YouTube is doing the same thing, though, being their base interface, it’s a little different. YouTube is moving to become closer to television.
Facebook is Even Bringing In Video Channels
The platform will be building channels that center around what friends of users are sharing, topics that might be of their interest or from Pages they have liked.
The response to this update has been mixed. There are people already looking for ways to disable the click for more feature. In some cases, instead of pausing, clicking on a video will redirect to a different one. This is an inconvenience that some users are already asking to get removed.
The update, out for iOS and web, may not be viewable for everyone yet. Some people have only been seeing in on the web version of the platform. For others, it’s only viewable on iOS. What’s more, clicking on a video on the iOS app will take users to a darkened screen with a roll of ads and related videos. Only exiting the app altogether will get rid of it.
Facebook Picks Up Where YouTube Leaves Off
Obviously, it’s not perfect. The social network wasn’t intended to be a video platform, and it is really only trying to adapt. With YouTube coming out with YouTube Red to get closer to television and looking for more exclusive content, Facebook is basically trying to get the crumbs of what YouTube is leaving behind. A lot of famous content makers will most likely move up to YouTube Red as time goes along, so Facebook might be the new way to get a quick fix of solid quality videos.
Soon enough, YouTube will be producing exclusive content via YouTube Red. It will probably go in the veins of what Hulu, Amazon and Netflix are currently doing. This means that YouTube is trying to go high-class. It definitely will take some effort to make a platform as popular as YouTube, but Facebook is a very solid contender to do it.
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