Facebook launches live video for celebrities in Mentions app

Facebook has launched a live video function for celebrities on its Mentions app.

The feature will allow any star with a verified account to broadcast to fans who follow them.

It'll be in competition with services like Periscope and Meerkat and will appear in people's News Feed.

The Facebook Mentions app allows athletes, musicians, politicians and other stars to talk with their fans and each other.

You'll be able to comment on, like or share the video while watching a live broadcast.

Comments will be added at a readable, steady pace and stars will have the option to turn comments off or use filters to blacklist any words they don't want to appear in their feed.

You can also see when your friends or other public figures start watching through push alerts but you won't be able to share a live feed.

If you don't catch the broadcast, you can watch the video later on the public figure's page, although stars do have the option to delete the video if they want to.

That's different from Periscope (which keeps the video for 24 hours) and Meerkat (which immediately deletes videos).

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Serena Williams were among the first to broadcast live.

Country singer Luke Bryan, pop star Ashley Tisdale, MLS footballer Kaka and Canadian crooner Michael Buble are also involved with others likely to join up soon.

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