The COVID19 pandemic has put freelancers in a position where they are constantly looking for new ways to get things done.
Many people are also now seeing the true size of the gig economy for the first time as it becomes apparent that many of these workers are responsible for essential jobs during the pandemic.
It is not surprising that Facebook has stepped up to enable these players work more efficiently by making additions to their platform to help people stay connected at a time when it is almost impossible. CEO –Mark Zukerberg took to the platform via Live chat to discuss the new additions put in place to respond to the COVID crisis.
Among the interventions made, these are some of the changes that will come in handy for remote workers and content creators:
WhatsApp is doubling the number of people who can participate in a group call, from four to eight, starting next week. He added that his company is using AI to enhance the user interface, so that changing position during a call will seamlessly shift the background of the speaker. For many of us who have been struggling with video call worthy backgrounds, a 3D virtual office backdrop will go a long way to enhance the image of our business.
Messenger Rooms, a new app, will allow users to create a room for any activity or event people want to hold and send a link to anyone, even if they don't have a Facebook or Instagram account. Messenger Rooms will allow up to 50 people to join in on the call. In the future, rooms will also come to Instagram Direct, Portal, and WhatsApp.
You don't need to schedule ahead of time, like one does for traditional video conferences. Instead, a "tray" will appear at the top of a user's feed, listing friends' active video rooms, so users can just click and drop-in, whenever they want. The new software also offers private rooms, with varying levels of openness to in-groups of one's circle of friends.
The live video feature called ‘Live With’ will now launch as part of Facebook Live. In the past, ‘Live With’ and ‘Facebook Live’ were used largely for large events. But in the post-coronavirus world, Facebook is seeing people use these for personal online events.
Now Facebook wants to help users build an event to host on live stream. The company also wants to make it possible for people to charge a fee for viewers to have access to events. He said this is in hopes of supporting "creators and small businesses that rely on in-person services."
Instagram Live will also come to computer and large-screen platforms. On Instagram, "you're going to be able to engage with live videos, on a bigger screen," Zuckerberg said.
An online resource with tips for people working remotely to help Facebook teams stay connected, be productive and do their best work, wherever they’re working has been opened publicly in case it’s helpful to others as many adjust to working remotely during this challenging time. Check out https://peoplepractices.fb.com/remote-work-resources/
For Content Creators and Publishers, since Facebook’s ability to review new content is now limited, they won’t be able to approve all content for monetization. They are however working on how to support partners at this time, and as this situation continues to evolve, further changes to their systems may be made. ‘’We will do our best to address any issues as quickly as we can and continue to provide updates.’’