Got camera? Facebook adds more Snapchat-like features

Facebook globally launched its new “story” feature, so now you’ll need to update your Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook stories, or choose one, next time you’re on vacation or out to dinner.

The Facebook camera has a range of effects like masks, frames and interactive filters that users can apply to their photos and videos.

The photos or videos that are part of Facebook’s story will be visible for 24 hours, but will not display it on anyone’s timeline or news feed, unless that user has specifically posted it there. It will still disappear after 24 hours so if you want it on a more permanent basis, post it on your News Feed as a regular post. It looks like there’s no stopping Facebook from its copying spree that has resulted in Snapchat’s “Stories” feature now coming to Facebook’s main application. The company disclosed that it has added an option known as Direct meant for sharing individuals videos and photos with particular friends for a limited period of time. To access the new feature, tap on the “Your Story” icon in Stories bar located at the top of News Feed. First in the list of features is the Facebook Camera.

It might be working: Snapchat’s growth rate has slowed down since Instagram introduced its own “stories” feature.

Besides checking out your friends’ stories, you could also add stories of your own.

If you want to dump Snapchat and start playing with Facebook Stories and Camera instead, check your app. Facebook is teaming up with several brands to create masks that’ll promote upcoming movies like Despicable Me 3 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Comments on a Story and images and videos on Direct will disappear whenever the content they’re responding to does.

The only drawback of the Facebook’s new feature is that the stories shared is visible to all the “friends”, and one can not opt out from the feature or hide it on his/ her timeline, as of now.