Facebook Live via camera in its pilot phase, confirms company

Social media giant Facebook is reportedly running tests to enable users to go live from the platform via the camera option itself, in contrast to using the 'Live' option on the status update box.

With the new update, users can record a video live from the Facebook camera screen itself, apart from recording live audio and creating GIFs.

However, Facebook confirmed that the update is in its pilot version, and hasn't been fully rolled out to users, reports TechCrunch.

Live streaming on Facebook was introduced back in 2015, initially only for public figures and celebrities. However, it later rolled out to regular Facebook users via the company's iOS and Android applications, and, at the beginning of this year, to the desktop.

With the growing popularity of podcasts, Facebook later also added a Live Audio feature, designed largely for publishers and authors, who use it for things like news radio-like shows, book readings, and other audio-only broadcasts.

For users who have availed the updated version of Facebook Camera, there are different functions appearing across the top of the screen, such as "Live," "Normal," and "GIF."

On the "Live" tab, users can tap on an icon of a video camera to live stream video, or tap on a microphone icon to just stream the audio.

The new feature also offers users the option to go live in their Facebook Story, if he/she does not wish to share the clip as a regular Facebook post. However, enthusiastic social media buffs have the option to share the audio or video clip as a Facebook story as well as a live update, simultaneously.