Facebook is now using more of their MSQRD acquisition as they test out Snapchat-like camera features for users in Canada and Brazil in line with the ongoing Rio Olympics 2016.
Users in the said countries have a new option in their mobile Facebook app to "Celebrate the Olympic Games" on their News Feed. When tapped, they are taken to a new Camera Feed layout that includes several more filters that are themed for the Rio Olympics event.
Unfortunately, the new MSQRD filters included in the Facebook app is currently only available for users in Brazil and Canada. Users who are in the said countries will be treated with new Snapchat-like filters of Olympics face paint that they can take selfies with to support their nation at the Olympics, TechCrunch has learned.
Facebook recently acquired MSQRD which features animated filters for the user's face. Their filters were also demonstrated with several Facebook Live streams from verified users and the social network giant aims to roll out the feature to more users in the future.
The social network giant believes that the mobile industry has also changed social media. Facebook Product Manager Sachin Monga said that sharing photos and videos in the past takes several steps whereas the new features on the social network now allows users to quickly take a picture with decorations on their faces and immediately share it to their friends, The Verge reported.
Before, users had to take a photo of themselves and find possible decorations on Google Images. They needed to Photoshop it to make it look better and the whole process takes several minutes up to an hour.
Now, several apps can instantly make the user's face better to be posted on social media. Some are even claiming that Facebook is copying Snapchat's selfie features with their new Instagram ones and now the MSQRD filters on the mobile app.
Facebook did not announce whether their new MSQRD animated filters will make it to users outside Canada and Brazil after the Rio Olympics 2016. The new filters can make Facebook or Instagram more suited to take on rival Snapchat which rejected the social network giant's acquisition several years back.