Over the last week, Monica (@dailydwelling) and I (@chaplainandrews) have been trying out the new live video app Periscope. Periscope is a live video app that seeks to help people “experience a place right now than through live video.” That place can be anywhere around the world. I have watched lived tours in Paris, storms in Texas, and a family’s living room. Some of my favorite people to watch are news anchors as they show behind the scenes of a TV newscast (@christieethridgewrdw) and a regular visit to a beehive (@realchrismorton).
I had heard about Periscope and meerkat earlier in the month, but was hesitant to check it out because of the frequent “new” social media venture that pop up. I also hadn’t thought to deeply about it until my wife opened her account. So I jumped on and I have had a great time checking everything out. The difference between Periscope and other social media startups is that it is connect to twitter and uses the twitter log in. Being a twitter user, it was a good fit for me.
If you are interested in using Periscope, there are many people to follow and a simple search can help you narrow it down. Once you follow the people of your interest, you will be able to be notified at the moment the account begins to broadcast. You can also go to the global tab and watch what is being broadcast right then. One caution about the global search is that occasionally there are videos and language that should not be filmed or used. As much as Periscope tries to block this activity and control it—it is live video and these types of activities are hard to keep up. I will tell you that these channels are not as frequent as the press may advertise, but it does need to be taken in consideration. Most of these stations are easily identifiable by their channel name as well—avoid them and you’ll be fine.
Periscope opens the door to a whole new world of social media. Instant video has been tried before, but Periscope places into the direct social media where it can be found, viewed, and shared. I believe that we will all be hearing much more about Periscope in the future—particularly during the next big news story that happens.