Facebook Making Standalone Camera App With Live Video Streaming: Report

Facebook is developing a standalone camera app, similar to disappearing photo app Snapchat, to increase user engagement, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The app, being developed by Facebook's "friend-sharing" team in London, is in its early stages and may never come to fruition, according to the report.

The company is also planning a feature that allows a user to record video through the app to begin live streaming, the newspaper reported.

Facebook declined to comment on the report.

(Also see: Facebook Ramps Up Live Video to Challenge Twitter's Periscope)

Facebook has been concentrating on its video platforms in the recent past, and a lot has been written about the company's ambitions to compete with Google's YouTube. The company with its Facebook Live video streaming platform is also looking to take on Twitter's Periscope.

Earlier this month, the social network brought video search to its platform, and also started showing Live videos in Trending topics. Facebook's mobile app now features a video search engine in the Live video section, where users can search for both Live videos and other videos via keywords. Users will also be able to browse channels alongside. It's worth noting that users will be only able to see video that have been shared with them. The addition is meant to keep search relevant to users involving the "unique, authentic public stories and conversations" happening on the social network.

As for Live videos in Trending topics, the company added it is hoping that more people start creating and sharing Live videos, in turn making Trending topics an "even better experience".

Facebook recently moved the button for its Messenger standalone app to give way to the new Live video feature that can be highlighted on the notification panel.

Written with inputs from Reuters