Facebook Emoji Now Used for VR Videos
Emoji have officially come to virtual reality.
— -- Facebook is bringing its set of emoji reactions to virtual reality videos.
Samsung Gear VR users will be able to choose animated emoji reactions for every virtual reality video they enjoy on Facebook. The integration adds an additional layer of social interactivity to the experience and allows users to see their friends' reactions float across the screen.
Facebook rolled out its new reactions globally in February to the website, so an integration into the Gear VR, which is powered by the Facebook-owned Oculus, seems like a logical next step for the social network. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously said VR is a priority for the company.
"There is just an emotional power to that and ability to convey an idea in a much stronger way," Zuckerberg said earlier this year. "Actually being able to feel like you are there is going to be amazingly powerful when the medium becomes matured."
Facebook rolled out its new reactions globally in February. In addition to "like," the five new emoji let Facebook users to express "love," "haha," "wow," "sad" or "angry."