PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

PCMag UK

Facebook Launches Periscope-Like Live Streaming for Famous People

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Live-streaming is apparently hot enough that Facebook wants in on the action.

Zuckerberg and Co. on Wednesday launched a new live video service, which is similar to Twitter's Periscope app and its main competitor Meerkat, but just for famous people. Billed as an "immersive and authentic way to connect with the public figures you care about," the new service lets athletes, musicians, politicians, and other "influencers" share live video from the Facebook Mentions app for their fans on the social network.

While anyone can view live streams, only public figures with a verified Facebook page can host one.

Facebook says the new Live feature will let public figures "take fans behind the scenes, host a Q&A, share announcements, and more — all in real time." The company has already signed up a few celebrities who have agreed to host live broadcasts, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Serena Williams, Luke Bryan, Ricardo Kaká, Ashley Tisdale, Lester Holt, Martha Stewart, and Michael Bublé.

You can discover these live videos from public figures you follow in your News Feed. As a viewer, you'll be able to comment on, like, or share the video while watching a live broadcast.

You can also see when your friends or other public figures start watching a stream. If you missed a broadcast, you'll be able to watch it later on the public figure's Facebook page — so long as the person doesn't delete it.

Launched in July 2014, Facebook Mentions lets public figures such as actors, athletes, musicians, and government officials more easily manage their Facebook presence and engage with fans on the social network. Those with access to the app can use it to track conversations about themselves, share updates, post photos and videos, and host live Q&As right from their phones.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read the latest from Angela Moscaritolo

Read full bio