Facebook to soon let users broadcast Live videos from desktops and laptops

Looks like Facebook is really bringing the fight to Google. Facebook has been rolling out the ability to broadcast live streams right from a laptop or desktop. Facebook user Delilah Taylor noticed the Live Video option appear on her status update composer while she was using Facebook on her desktop. Facebook has confirmed with SocialTimes that they’re starting to rollout this feature. According to SocialTimes’ source, both peripheral and built-in cameras will be supported.

Taylor described her experience in the video saying, “When I first clicked live video, it didn’t do anything. You’ve got to put in a comment, and then you hit next, and when you hit next, it will bring up a secondary screen, which kind of looks like a Google Hangout screen, and you can adjust your camera and microphone … Then you hit ‘Go Live.’”

Death captured on Facebook Live shows dark side of livestreaming

The thing with capturing events as they happen means we can’t filter out the bad and horrible stuff happening around us. One such incident is the shooting of Chicago man Antonio Perkins, which was caught on camera because he was using Facebook Live while the incident happened. It’s unfortunate that his case isn’t a unique one as other violent incidents have been caught on live video before. And unlike live TV, there isn’t a way to cut away from a scene when things get gory.

Facebook didn’t take down Perkins’s video but put a “graphic video” warning on it. The social network removes clips that sensationalize violence but leaves this footage and a few others to help boost awareness about violence and its consequences. We doubt incidents like this will prevent Facebook from continuing one with livestream but it is a tragic reminder that it won’t be without terrible incidents like this.

Source: Engadget