Facebook acquired MSQRD, an app that allows users to add animated elements to videos. Similar to Snapchat's lenses, MSQRD's face swapping technology encourages creativity in video creation. Facebook may introduce this technology and monetize it in the future. Facebook is also working on allowing users to purchase products directly in Messenger and pick them up in stores, and send sponsored messages from brands users have previously interacted with. The platform is expected to share more details about these plans at its F8 conference in April.

1. What’s
Happening
On
Facebook…
Why
Facebook’s
Going
to
Start
Looking
More
Like
Snapchat
Facebook
just
acquired
the
popular
app
MSQRD,
which
allows
video
creators
to
add
animated
elements
over
their
faces
while
recording.
Similar
to
Snapchat’s
Lenses,
the
product
encourages
creaCvity
by
providing
an
easy
way
to
enhance
videos.
MSQRD’s
face
swapping
technology
is
not
yet
available
for
Facebook
users.
While
there
are
no
current
brand
applicaCons
or
paid
opportuniCes,
we
do
expect
the
plaGorm
to
introduce
opportuniCes
down
the
road.
How
Facebook
May
Mone<ze
Messenger
Users
may
soon
be
able
to
purchase
products
directly
within
the
Messenger
app
and
later
pick
those
products
up
in
stores.
To
complement
this
potenCal
new
update,
Facebook
is
also
rumored
to
be
working
toward
“suggested
businesses,”
which
would
allow
adverCsers
to
send
sponsored
messages
directly
to
users.
Because
Facebook
aims
to
keep
Messenger
a
high-­‐quality
experience,
which
would
exclude
unwanted
messages,
we
believe
users
may
only
be
able
to
receive
messages
from
brands
they’ve
interacted
with
previously.
The
plaGorm
is
expected
to
share
more
informaCon
in
April
during
their
F8
developer
conference
in
San
Francisco.