Facebook Allows Users to Upload Videos

Facebook has put on the punching gloves as it challenges some of YouTube’s biggest content creators to place its videos on their site and post the views.  In the past, the only YouTube videos that have frequented Facebook were from their users posting them.  But now, Facebook allows users to upload videos directly to its site.

This content war may seem fierce between Facebook and YouTube, but Facebook is hoping to utilize themselves into different mediums and capture audiences who continually use YouTube and Facebook side by side, keeping them on their pages longer.

One other thing that Facebook is hoping for is to earn from the advertisements on the videos.  And by allowing Facebook users to directly upload videos to its site, this will open up the availability to sell ads with those videos.

With this new system set up to encourage the distribution of video, it may prove to be a success since it is easier to get videos in front of people.  This will ultimately mean big growth for Facebook especially since most of the videos are set to auto-play.  These little silent movies play until the viewer is intrigued enough to click the play button.  And then, those who like what they see, as the video is rolling, can click on the video to watch it in its entirety.  And it is clear that these pint-sized video clips are becoming more and more popular and a good choice for Facebook to use as they test out their ability to challenge YouTube.

Let’s face it.  People like to watch video.  In fact, there are more than a billion users that share, like and watch video every day.  Of course, this will make it harder for content creators to come up with appealing material, but there is already a huge engagement for this type of platform.  No one will lose if they are continually adjusting to please the viewer.

If Facebook does prove that they can succeed with this push for video and views, then YouTube may have a bit of a challenge ahead of them to come up with the next ‘big’ thing for their global online audience and advertising market.