Facebook launches live streaming… but only for celebrities

Service allows public figures to send out live video streams, rest of us can access videos in our news feeds

Facebook on Wednesday announced the launch of Live for Facebook Mentions, a live video service accessible from within its VIP-only Facebook Mentions app.

With competitor Twitter’s Periscope and other live streaming services already engaging users in a new form of communication, how could Facebook stay behind. However, this service only allows public figures to communicate through live video, while the rest of us can access these videos in our News Feed.

“You can comment on, like or share the video while watching a live broadcast,” the statement said. “You can also see when your friends or other public figures start watching.”

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Don’t worry if you miss a celebrity’s live broadcast, because you can watch the video later on their Page. In the coming days, there will be live broadcasts from Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Serena Williams, Luke Bryan, Ricardo Kaka, Ashley Tisdale, Lester Holt, Martha Stewart, Michael Bublé and several more.

Read: Facebook's Internet drone ready to fly later this year

At the public figure’s end, it will probably be an even more exciting/overwhelming experience. “During your broadcast, you’ll see the number of viewers and a real time stream of comments from people tuning in,” a blog post introducing the service to public figures reads. “You can respond to comments live during the broadcast, or choose to hide comments.”

Read: Facebook users help woman from Seattle reunite with father

There is no indication of whether this service will be made open for everyone. When asked by TechCrunch when the rest of us will be getting this or a similar feature, Live for Facebook Mentions Product Manger Vadim Lavrusik did not give an answer, instead talking about the Live for Facebook Mentions launch. “We think this would be an awesome experience for both public figures and also users. We want to get feedback from both public figures and viewers as we evolve the product.”

Read: Have more control over your Facebook news feed

Lavrusik  also told Variety magazine that the company’s “goal with Facebook Mentions is to give public figures tools to connect with their fans authentically. Video is some of the most authentic content we’ve seen, and being able to interact with a public figure in real time is such an intimate experience.”