Following the rise in popularity of vertical videos on platforms like TikTok, Meta’s Facebook is introducing an improved vertical display and recommendations algorithm. Tech news sources such as The Verge have covered the launch of a new vertical screen format for all Facebook videos on mobile devices.
This update represents a significant improvement to the platform’s video player. Previously, Facebook had different formats for videos, with short reels displayed in full-screen vertical format, while longer videos played horizontally based on their length or viewer orientation.
Now, Facebook is transitioning to support all video lengths in a full-screen vertical-oriented format. Meta announced this format change in a recent blog post.
“We’re rolling out an updated video player on Facebook that combines Reels, longer videos, and Live content into a single fullscreen, immersive experience. The updated video player will first launch on iOS and Android devices in the US and Canada, with a global rollout in the coming months,” explained Facebook in the blog post.
The blog post also highlighted improvements in video recommendations for all video lengths. Now, all posted videos are accessible in a vertical feed similar to TikTok. Additionally, users will have the option to watch “most videos” simply by rotating their phones.
Facebook also mentioned simplifying the user interface for reactions, with improved sliders and options for skipping backward or forward in videos.
Furthermore, Facebook provided insights from the new algorithmic update, which holds particular significance for creators.
“High-quality and engaging videos, regardless of length or type, perform well on Facebook. While we will recommend videos to users irrespective of length or type, creators will notice that our updated recommendations will feature even more Reels to align with increased viewer demand,” the blog post noted.
