Facebook Launches New Video Tools and Library for Page Admins

In a bid to compete against Google's video service juggernaut - YouTube - Facebook has revealed two new major updates for Page admins, giving them more customisation options when distributing videos on the social media website.

The updated video upload tools would now let Facebook Page admins send 'secret' videos, just like YouTube's unlisted videos, which can be accessed only via direct URL links and don't appear on searches and other social media websites. Using this tool, users would be able to share videos privately. Facebook has also given admins the freedom to restrict audiences by age and gender, and to keep their own video thumbnails.

Some of the other features offered by Facebook include labelling of videos into categories such as Entertainment or News, and the publishing of a video directly on the Videos tab, not even on the timeline. Admins can also block third party embeds for the videos. The ability to set an expiration date of a video is also included.

The company also announced a new Video Library, where the Page owners can manage their videos. Modification of videos in bulk has also been made possible. Page admins can access the section through the Publishing Tools section on their Page.

Using the Video Library, users can edit a video's metadata after upload that also includes adding of subtitles and changing the video thumbnail, control video distribution, prohibit third party embeds, publish to News Feed, and more. Besides the feature to search for videos by title or description, admins can also view and manage secret videos. Facebook says all these features would be available to all in the coming weeks.

Facebook might also have few more features up its sleeve for end users, as the company was reported to be testing a 'Watch Later' video button. The button is said to appear on the upper right corner of the video when the mouse is hovered over it.