Periscope is Twitter’s new live streaming broadcast application, which allows the user to broadcast video content on Twitter (when connected, tweeting your link automatically) and on the app. Periscope is built for iOS and Android devices.
How to use it
Just a few clicks and you will be broadcasting live to a worldwide audience. That means you can broadcast your night out with friends, a performance by your favourite DJ, or even your commentary while watching an awards show on TV. The possibilities are endless. You do, though, have the option to set your video streaming to private (for the curious introvert). You will find those settings under the broadcast button and click on the “lock key”.
When you have launched the application, you have four options: Recent broadcasts – from people you follow, Map (to watch users live broadcast, in any city worldwide), Broadcast – which has a further four options (1. Locations on/off 2.Private, 3.Custom broadcast and 4. Tweet broadcast) People – shows who you follow on Twitter and the “most loved” list, which enables the viewer to send hearts by double tapping on the screen to the live broadcast and whomever receives the most hearts gets a position on this list.
Once you have selected all the necessary settings and typed in “what are you seeing now” (which gives the viewer an idea of what they are about to watch), you can then click on the “Start Broadcast” and voilà, you are live.
Because a few people Africa use the app, it makes it even more exciting to be the only person live at that time on the continent.
And yes, that means you may get a few questions from people asking you, where are the lions? Laugh it off and show them there’s more to Africa than the wildlife.
Pros
– Being able to interact with new people.
– Never alone.
– No uploading or editing.
– Why travel, when you can watch someone in the Caribbean islands.
– The app is mobile so you can stream wherever.
– Getting a breaking news story out there without waiting for huge outside broadcasting vans.
Cons
–Not knowing someone is periscoping you.
– Click bait (saying something totally different from what is being shown).
– People thinking you’re crazy because you’re talking to yourself.
– Missing out on real life experiences.
– Rebroadcasting copyrighted content violates the services and can result in banning and suspension.