To some, it seems like we’ve been using these same apps for decades: Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook and Snapchat.
This month, an app that could find its place among the giants was announced : Squad
What is Squad?
Simply, Squad is an app that allows us to make videocalls with up to six people at the same time, but this is not it’s main function, its other function allows us to share our screen with the people we call.
Squad operates with Apple ReplayKit to make this possible.
It was announced back in 2015, but it wasn’t until
Squad, a friend to us all
Even though the app has only been on the market for a few weeks, a wave of Facebook and Snap employes have already registered to se what’s going on in the app and posibly make their own attempts to replicate it.
The thing is: the app has found a great marketing opportunity on teenagers because they use the Internet to look at memes together, check messages and gossip about them, do projects together and even make decisions about Tinder.
Squad’s CEO, Esther Crawford said: “p
Squad wants people to go into shared screens reguarly via URL to create a new era of LIVE content.
Why screensharing?
We have been sharing our screens since before the first laptops reached our… well laps.
Many times, this has been the only way to teach something, so this kind of application has had its uses in education.
Today, however, we no longer use our screens only for work, many people, adults and teenagers alike, live through digital platforms.
This new way to interact with our screens has developed the need to share them at any time.
And clearly, how many times have we all needed to share something important directly from our screen.
How does it work?
The app turns on the front camera like any other videocalling app would, but it comes with a + button to invite friends to the call.
At the bottom we have the button to share our screen.
To make sure you have a good call, the app suggests other apps you can use with it like Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
You can easily change back and forth between video call and screen sharing as many times as needed, then if you want some other friend to see the screen, you invite them and BAM! it becomes viral.
One of the bigger concerns about Squad is privacy, given that anyone could share an Intagram user’s screen even if that user is blocked.
But we could say the same about just showing your screen in person.
This is why Squad won’t let you download videos of your messages and is considering sending screenshot alerts.
One of the best parts of Squad is that it’s not as needy as a normal videocall.
During a videocall your face is stuck there for the other person to see, and it does feel quite invasive.
Squad lets you show your screen for the other person to see what you are doing, without any need of showing anything else, it gives us the feeling of doing something together instead of just staring eachother faces.
Will marketing share screens?
Like any other social network in the world, if it’s free, they’ll find a way to monetize it and that’s where marketing will come in play.
And maybe even if they don’t monetize, there is something called handover in print advertising, this is when you give your magazine or paper to someone else, that publicity just
When you share your screen, the other person can see the same ads you do, so they get 6 times more impressions. That’s something great for all of us!
sources:
www.techcrunch.com
www.squad-app.com
www.consultantinsider.com