Messenger Announces ‘Group Effects’ To Make Video Conferences More Delightful
Image via Facebook Messenger
Video calling is, as the last 18 months have proven, an essential way of keeping in contact in today’s world. So, of course, it’d make sense for one of the current biggest social media companies to keep building on this tool.
Facebook has announced that there are going to be new augmented-reality (AR) additions to video calls, which will also be coming to Instagram soon. Is this all part of the plan to build the metaverse? Perhaps.
Named ‘Group Effects’, the new feature aims to make AR filters a shared experience and enable “a more fun and immersive way to connect with friends and family.” At launch, a library of 70 effects will be made available, ranging from games—stacking a hamburger with its ingredients—to cute filters, cats entering everyone’s frames, and more.
Users will be able to access these through the smiley face icon in any video call or Messenger Room to open the effects tray, where Group Effects can be found.
Image via Facebook Messenger
Alongside this, creators will also be able to make and share their own AR effects through the Spark Multipeer API. An example is the ‘Blow the Dandelion’ effect, created by 3D designer and filter artist Ross Wakefield. Facebook will be expanding access to this tool at the end of the month.
“For the first time, Group Effects enable creators to bring their creative ideas to the Messenger video calling experience,” Facebook writes in its blog post. “Until now, many AR effects have been a solo experience or augmented a photo or video for Stories or Reels.” But, as the ancient proverb goes, sharing is caring.
Another addition that the company revealed on Wednesday is suggested word effects, where a specific phrase sent as a standalone message—like “congrats” or “goodnight”—will trigger a cascade of emojis.
Image via Facebook Messenger
It’s interesting to note that the new AR filters will also be introduced in Messenger Rooms, the platform’s videoconferencing feature akin to Zoom.
Whether or not its users choose to don AR effects of wacky hair colors and facial accessories during a business meeting or pitch is, supposedly, down to the individual. But honestly, it’s been quite the year, hasn’t it; you do you.
[via TechCrunch, image via Facebook Messenger]
Also check out these recent news
