Twitter will be releasing live-streaming 360-degree video capabilities to a select number of its users. This is capable through a 360-degree camera that is attached to the phone. The development comes not long after Twitter added live streaming as an option for all users earlier this month.

Twitter is following Facebook in its quest to pursue live 360-degree video streaming. Greenlight Insights forecasts VR cameras having an impact beginning in 2020. Mobile-based VR cameras will be largely purchased by consumers to share 360-degree video content with friends and family. VR cameras that are smartphone dependent will be lower quality and cheaper compared to standalone cameras.

From 2016 Virtual Reality Industry Report | Graph by Greenlight Insights

360-degree video will be dominated by user-generated content as the videos require little editing. Live streaming on social media has been a trend in 2016 as Facebook has popularized live streaming for users, news outlets, and brands. Journalism will also benefit from live 360-degree video streaming as it has from live social media stream - reaching a large live audience.

There is great potential in the diversity of 360-degree video content and user-generated is one level that needs to be optimized for content to grow. The addition of 360-degree video capabilities will ease the transition as Facebook and Twitter already have a large audience of users who understand the social platform.