Social network has launched its own in-app Camera - and another Snapchat clone

Everyone’s favorite (or not-so-favorite) social network, Facebook, has launched yet another app/feature. The first is called Facebook Camera (I presume this is supposed to replace your phone camera — or something like that) and another feature called which is obviously another result of Facebook’s obsession with cloning Snapchat.

For Facebook Camera, you can share photos and videos you take with the camera on Facebook [alone?] and it’s got lost of effects, frames and interactive filters that you can use on the photos and videos. Facebook is also partnering with brands to create masks for upcoming movies Alien: Covenant, Despicable Me 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Power Rangers, Smurfs: The Lost Village and Wonder Woman.

The social network has aso partnered with visual artists like Douglas Coupland and Hattie Stewart to create guest artwork and it says it will be updating the creative effects in the Camera feature so you have more than enough to look forward to.

ALSO READ: You can now save live videos on your phone!

“We want to make it fast, fun and easy for people to share creative photos and videos with whomever they choose, for however long they choose — and the more we share with each other, the more open and connected our community can be. Today we’re starting to roll out a new Camera with effects and two additional ways to share the photos and videos you take,” says Connor Hayes, Product Manager at Facebook.

Facebook Stories works basically the same way Instagram Stories (and Snapchat and WhatsApp’s Status and Messenger Day) do. You can post photos or videos within the main Facebook app and they will disappear after 24 hours.You can also send to specific friends or contacts (Facebook has a name for that too: ‘Direct’).

In the immediate future, Facebook says it plans to create new ways for its users to create their own frames and effects that can be used on any photo or video taken with the Facebook Camera.

On why it launched the new Camera, Stories and Direct features, Facebook says its goal “is for the Camera to be a home to hundreds of dynamic and fun effects that give you new ways to connect with friends, family, and your community.” Oh, well.