Facebook launches Musical.ly competitor called 'Lip Sync Live'
What's the story
Facebook is no stranger to borrowing ideas from competitors, and this time, it has launched a new feature called 'Lip Sync Live' which is quite similar to products like Musical.ly and Dubsmash. The new feature, which is being tested in select markets, can be accessed on Facebook's 'Live Video' platform. A global roll-out is expected soon. Here are the details.
Access
How to access Lip Sync Live
If Lip Sync Live is available for you, it should be accessible while starting a Live video, along with other features like adding descriptions. As you lip sync to songs live, your Facebook friends can comment on the live video. Additionally, they can also follow the artist directly from your video. There's also a 'Live With' feature which allows you to collaborate with friends.
Song catalogue
Facebook has deals with major music labels
For its Lip Sync Live song catalogue, Facebook has partnered with major names in the music industry. Currently users can lip sync to hundreds of popular songs like "Happier" by Ed Sheeran, "God's Plan" by Drake, and even the dated but classic "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses. The number of available songs are expected to reach millions during the global roll-out.
Musical.ly
Musical.ly had seen tremendous success earlier
For those unaware, Musical.ly, which allows "musers" to create 15 second to one minute long lip-synced music videos, was officially launched in August 2014. By mid-2016, the social media app had over 90 million registered users and saw an average of 12 million videos posted daily. The number of registered users rose to 200 million in mid-2017, and subsequently, the app was sold off.
Information
Musical.ly was sold off for $1bn
Greedy about Musical.ly's unprecedented success, Chinese tech firm Bytedance Technology purchased the lip-syncing app for $1bn in November 2017. Interestingly, Bytedance also also bought out Musical.ly rival Tik Tok short video.
Facebook desperate?
Is this a sign of Facebook's desperation?
Facebook's attempts to ape Musical.ly may be viewed as desperate at a time when the social media network is rapidly losing its teenage users to rivals like Snapchat. Many have also moved to the now Facebook-owned Instagram. Notably, the increasingly 'uncool' Facebook is set to lose around 3 million under-25 users from the US and UK this year, as more older people sign up.
Data
The youth exodus plaguing Facebook
According to a report by Ampere Analysis, currently, around 44% of Snapchat users are aged 18-24 years, as opposed to Facebook's 20%. However, the youth exodus plaguing Facebook is being balanced out by entry of older people aged 30 and above.