Facebook has bought photo-editing app Masquerade, which lets people change their appearance in real -time.
Masquerade app lets you overlay playful, animated filters over your face using your phone’s selfie camera. With the app you can record video or take a still photo to share on other social networks.
The app can transform faces – often in a cartoon-like fashion – and overlay make-up, animal features or accessories on live video.
Masquerade’s filters have been compared to those in rival Snapchat, which Facebook tried to buy in 2013.
One expert said Facebook was responding to competition from Snapchat, which streams millions of videos daily.
Face-changing apps gained popularity after instant messaging app Snapchat added live filters called lenses in 2015.
The face-swap filter, which switches two people’s faces with often alarming results, has become a particular favourite on social media.
David Wilkinson, the managing partner at digital consultancy Soho Strategy thought Facebook has realized Snapchat has something it does not have
According to the Wall Street Journal Facebook tried to take over Snapchat in 2013 for $3bn, but the instant messaging firm rejected the offer.
Facebook has not disclosed how much it has paid for Belarus-based Masquerade, but said it would keep the app running as a standalone program, as well as integrating features with its social network.
