More than 5,000 developers, creators and entrepreneurs from around the world came together for F8, Facebook’s annual conference where the company shared it believed would be the future of technology. Here are the new stuffs that are coming to each of the company’s products.M
Asha Sharma, Director, Messenger Consumer Product, announced several new products and features to help create closer ties between people, businesses and developers.
Sharma revealed Facebook is re-building the architecture of Messenger from the ground up to be faster and lighter than ever before. This completely re-engineered Messenger will begin to roll out later this year.
Also, Messenger will now let you discover and watch videos from Facebook together in real time. You’ll be able to seamlessly share a video from the Facebook app on Messenger and invite others to watch together while messaging or on a video chat.
“We are testing this now and will begin to roll it out globally later this year,” Sharma said.
Facebook is also introducing a Desktop App for Messenger for both Windows and MacOS. It allows for group video calls, collaboration on projects or multi-task while chatting in Messenger. This is expected to be rolled out globally later this year.
Facebook is also introducing a dedicated space in Messenger where you can discover Stories and messages with your closest friends and family. You’ll also be able to share snippets from your own day and can choose exactly who sees what you post. This will roll out later this year.
To make it even easier for businesses to connect with potential customers, Facebook is adding lead generation templates to Ads Manager. There, businesses can easily create an ad that drives people to a simple Q&A in Messenger to learn more about their customers. And to make it easier to book an appointment with businesses like car dealerships, stylists or cleaning services, Facebook has also created an appointment experience so people can book appointments within a Messenger conversation.
Ami Vora, VP Product Management at WhatsApp, announced the service will now allow people to be able to see a business catalog right within WhatsApp when chatting with a business. With catalogs, businesses can showcase their goods so people can easily discover them.
Fidji Simo, Head of the Facebook App, announced changes that put Groups at the center of Facebook and sharing new ways Facebook can help bring people together offline.
Connecting with Your Secret Crush
“We’re rolling out FB5, a fresh new design for Facebook that’s simpler, faster, more immersive and puts your communities at the center. Overall, we’ve made it easier to find what you’re looking for and get to your most-used features,” Simo said.
People will start seeing some of these updates in the Facebook app right away, and the new desktop site will come in the next few months.
On Facebook Dating, you can opt in to discover potential matches within your own Facebook communities: events, groups, friends of friends and more. It’s currently available in Colombia, Thailand, Canada, Argentina, and Mexico — and at F8, it expanded to 14 new countries: Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Guyana, and Suriname.
Facebook also announced a new feature called Secret Crush. So now, if you choose to use Secret Crush, you can select up to nine of your Facebook friends who you want to express interest in. If your crush has opted into Facebook Dating, they will get a notification saying that someone has a crush on them. If your crush adds you to their Secret Crush list, it’s a match! If your crush isn’t on Dating, doesn’t create a Secret Crush list, or doesn’t put you on their list, no one will know that you’ve entered a friend’s name.
The Ability to Shop from Creators
Starting next week, you can shop inspiring looks from the creators you love without leaving Instagram. Instead of taking a screenshot or asking for product details in comments or Direct, you can simply tap to see exactly what your favorite creators are wearing and buy it on the spot. Anyone in will be able to shop from creators. Instagram will begin testing this with a small group of creators this week, with plans to expand access over time.
A Way to Fundraise for Causes
Starting today, you can raise money for a nonprofit you care about directly on Instagram. Through a donation sticker in Stories, you can create a fundraiser and mobilize your community around a cause you care about — with 100% of the money raised on Instagram going to the nonprofit you’re supporting. This will be available in the US now
A New and Improved Camera
In the coming weeks, Instagram will be introducing a new camera design including Create Mode, which gives you an easy way to share without a photo or video. This new camera will make it easier to use popular creative tools like effects and interactive stickers, so you can express yourself more freely.