Facebook has introduced a new feature that is set to revolutionize the way users consume video content on the platform. The social media giant has rolled out a redesigned video player that offers a vertical full-screen experience, similar to popular short-video platform TikTok.
The updated video player aims to provide a more engaging and immersive viewing experience for users. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that the new player will bring together Reels, long videos, and Live content in a single fullscreen format. This move is in line with the current trend of vertical video consumption, which has gained popularity among users.
Previously, Facebook displayed videos in a horizontal format, but with the new update, users will now see videos in a vertical orientation by default. However, users can still switch to landscape mode by rotating their devices. The redesigned player also comes with new playback controls, such as the ability to navigate to specific parts of the video using a bottom slider and the option to skip forward or backward by ten seconds.
In addition to the new video player, Facebook has enhanced its video recommendations to provide users with content tailored to their interests. The platform will also prioritize promoting Reels to help creators reach a wider audience. These recommendations will be visible both within the video player and in users’ feeds and video tabs.
The new video player is currently being rolled out to users in the United States and Canada, with a global rollout planned in the coming months. With this update, Facebook is taking a step towards offering a more interactive and personalized video viewing experience for its users, while also staying competitive in the ever-evolving social media landscape.