Facebook tests full-screen video on app launch in India, and Meta launches Seller app
Meta is testing a video-first Facebook home screen in India, and has launched a free AI-assisted Seller app for Marketplace users in the US.
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Facebook is bringing a major change to its app. Until now, opening the app showed photos and posts. Under the new design, a large video, similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, will appear as soon as the app opens. The change is being tested first in India. Facebook has more than 40 crore users in the country, its largest market, which is why the experiment began here.
Earlier, opening the Facebook app showed friends' posts, photos or news. A Meta research study found that people are now more interested in watching videos than reading posts, and that they spend the most time on Reels. This is why Facebook has brought in the video-first plan. Reels and videos will now appear full screen on opening the app, and new videos will keep appearing as users scroll.
The old feed has not been discontinued. It will move to a separate tab in the app, where anyone who wants it can go and see older posts. Users who do not like the update can also turn it off, as the company has provided an opt-out option.
Facebook has introduced something new not only for viewers but also for sellers. Facebook Marketplace has completed 10 years, and to mark the occasion Meta has launched a new, free app called Seller. The app is meant for people who sell goods on Marketplace and offers considerable help from AI.
For instance, a person who wants to sell an item only needs to take a photo of it and upload it. Meta AI does the rest. It suggests the item's name, the description to write, the category to list it under and the price it should carry. This makes about half of a seller's work easier.
People who sell on a large scale will be able to see all customer messages in one place, through a Unified Inbox. An Inventory Management Tool has also been provided to show how much stock is left and what has been sold.
For now, the Seller app has launched for iOS users in the US. It will soon come to Android as well, and will be launched in India later. Overall, Facebook wants to become a complete video platform, with the aim of keeping people watching videos for as long as possible.
