We have more newsletters
Meta is testing its own version of BeReal and could introduce it to Facebook and Instagram in future.
The news was revealed by tech industry insider Matt Navarra, who tweeted screenshots of the Roll Call feature explaining that it was 'first spotted being tested in Instagram late last year'.
He also shared an image of a description of Roll Call for Messenger. It reads: "Users create in-thread prompts, like 'show me your lunch', and other users respond with 'in the moment' content relevant to the prompt.
READ NEXT: Facebook and Instagram users to pay for key feature under new verification plans
"To encourage 'in the moment' participation the prompt has a countdown timer (e.g. 5 minutes) and a notification is sent to users in the thread that they have the limited time to respond.
"After submitting a response, users can view everyone else's response to the prompt."
If the description is accurate, it would suggest that Meta's Roll Call feature does have a few elements which distinguish it from BeReal; namely the concept of user-made prompts for 'in the moment' content. However, BeReal does limit users to day-by-day responses to posts.
Meta confirmed it is internally testing the feature in an email to TechCrunch yesterday.
Launched in 2020, BeReal prompts groups of friends to capture and a share a photo at a different time every day. It gives them two minutes to respond to the prompt, although users can post 'late' BeReal photos.
Warning for millions of iPhone users over hack that could 'wipe' your device
This usually results in a huge thread of photos where people share the utterly mundane and boring things they're up to at that particular moment, whether that's sitting on the toilet or walking to Tesco for a meal deal.
Meta have made quite the name for themselves when it comes to acquiring or mimicking other social media challengers.
The firm bought Instagram and WhatsApp when these became competitive with Facebook, while it also introduced TikTok-like 'Reels' to Facebook and Instagram once the videosharing app became a hugely popular hit.
One Twitter user, @LokiRyx, said of the news: "I'm hoping that one day Meta face some kind of charges for copying every dam feature from other platforms and small apps just to make sure their users don't even think about leaving their platforms."
READ MORE:
- Inside Saudi Arabia's giant 'metaverse cube' the size of 20 Empire State buildings
- UK government might have just accidentally confirmed 'Nintendo Switch 2' is on the way
- Woman says she had 'no idea' she was the voice of Siri and Apple never paid her
- Lucky Karen sells 'ancient' 2007 Apple iPhone for whopping £56,000 at auction
- Nintendo Switch
- iPhone
- Shooting
- Saudi Arabia
Source: Read Full Article