What is Periscope?
Periscope was a live-streaming app owned by Twitter. Launched in 2015, it let you broadcast video in real time to your followers. You could share your experiences, events, or thoughts instantly with viewers worldwide.
The app made live video content popular on social media. As you streamed, followers could engage by sending comments and hearts. This created an interactive experience between broadcasters and viewers.
Periscope worked on both iOS and Android devices. It integrated with Twitter, allowing you to share your broadcasts easily. The app played a key role in making live video a common feature on social platforms.
How did Periscope work?
Periscope let you broadcast live video from your phone to the world. You could start a stream with just a tap. Your followers got notified when you went live.
As you streamed, viewers could join and leave comments. You’d see their messages pop up on screen. Viewers could also send hearts to show they liked your content.
Your broadcasts could be public or private. Public streams were visible to anyone on Periscope or Twitter. Private broadcasts were for select followers only.
Periscope integrated closely with Twitter. This made it easy to share your streams with your Twitter audience. You could also watch Periscope broadcasts directly in your Twitter feed.
What were the key features of Periscope?
Periscope offered real-time interaction between broadcasters and viewers. You could comment and send “hearts” to show appreciation during live streams.
The app made it easy to discover new streams. You’d get notifications when people you followed went live.
After a broadcast ended, you could watch replays for 24 hours. This let you catch up on streams you missed.
Periscope’s simplicity was a big draw. You could start streaming with just your phone and the app.
These features made Periscope popular for sharing live events, behind-the-scenes content, and personal vlogs.
Why did Periscope shut down?
Periscope shut down on March 31, 2021, after six years of operation. You might wonder why this once-popular live streaming app closed its doors.
The main reason was tough competition. Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live offered similar or better features. These platforms had larger user bases, making it hard for Periscope to keep up.
Periscope’s user numbers were dropping. Twitter, who owned Periscope, decided to fold its key features into the main Twitter app. This made the standalone Periscope app unnecessary.
In the end, the cost of running Periscope outweighed its benefits. Twitter chose to focus on live video within its own platform instead.
What is Periscope’s legacy in social media?
Periscope changed how you interact with live content on social media. It made real-time video streaming accessible to everyone with a smartphone.
The app’s influence is still felt today. You can see its impact in the live features now common on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Periscope showed the power of connecting people through live video. It let you share breaking news, behind-the-scenes moments, and everyday life in real-time.
While Periscope itself shut down, its core features live on. You can still stream live video on Twitter, carrying forward Periscope’s innovative spirit.
The app’s legacy is clear: it paved the way for live video to become a key part of your social media experience.