FACEBOOK TESTS FULL-SCREEN VIDEO PLAYER AT APP LAUNCH

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

FRI, JUL 24, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Facebook is testing a full-screen "immersive video" player that replaces the newsfeed when users open the app. The test will roll out in select international markets this year, with potential U.S. expansion planned for 2024.

The social platform is shifting toward a video-first experience, positioning the new player as the default landing page rather than the traditional feed of text and image posts. This represents a significant departure from Facebook's core interface design. The company will gather user feedback and engagement metrics during the international testing phase before deciding on broader rollout. The move aligns with Facebook's ongoing pivot toward video content, which the platform has prioritized for years. If successful in test markets, the change could reshape how millions of users interact with Facebook daily. The redesign potentially affects how content creators and advertisers reach audiences, given the shift in prominence from feed-based discovery to immersive video experiences. Facebook has not specified which international markets will participate in the initial test.

■ SOURCES

► Techmeme

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE BIG TECH DESK

P437ANTHROPIC'S $2T IPO TESTS PROFIT-PURPOSE BALANCE

Anthropic's $2 trillion initial public offering places its unconventional governance structure under public scrutiny. The AI company's use of external trustees to enforce its mission represents a novel test case for balancing commercial success with stated values.

2H AGO— AI Desk

P438GMAIL KILLS 'SEND AS' FOR THIRD-PARTY EMAILS

Google is discontinuing Gmail's "Send as" feature for non-Google email addresses like @yahoo.com and @outlook.com. Users will no longer be able to compose and send messages from external email accounts through Gmail's interface.

2H AGO— AI Desk

P439MUSK WINS COURT ORDER TO BLOCK 'TWITTER' USE

Elon Musk has secured a court order preventing others from using the "Twitter" name, though the terms allow continued use of "tweet" and the bird logo. The ruling permits Musk to label X as "formerly Twitter" in app stores.

2H AGO— Industry Desk

P433APPLE PLANS MAJOR PRODUCT BLITZ OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

Apple has a significant lineup of new products in development, ranging from foldable iPhones to camera-equipped AirPods and smart glasses, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The launches are timed to coincide with John Ternus' tenure at the company.

3H AGO— Industry Desk

◄ BACK TO NEWS

FACEBOOK TESTS FULL-SCREEN VIDEO PLAYER AT APP LAUNCH

■ MORE FROM THE BIG TECH DESK

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF