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Facebook will let you (and Beyoncé) produce your own VR content

Facebook execs have confirmed that the social giant is developing apps for celebrities – and us common folk – to produce their own VR content. But how feasible is the idea?

Facebook head honcho Zuckerberg bought Oculus VR, the company behind the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, almost a year ago for an eye-watering $2 billion. Since the acquisition, Facebook has been relatively quiet regarding its plans for VR, but now the company’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, has revealed that virtual reality apps are currently being developed.

Speaking at the Code/Media conference in Laguna Niguel, Cox said: “I mean, virtual reality is pretty cool. We’re working on apps for VR.”

When asked by re/code’s Peter Kafka if users would be able to make VR content, Cox replied “Totally. You’ll do it, Beyoncé will do it.”

Naturally, the Facebook exec refrained from dropping any specifics about what the apps will offer, or indeed what might be in store for Facebook users once the technology launches. However, the idea of social networking via VR is an enticing prospect –  the ability to plug yourself into someone else’s head to see and hear exactly what they’re experiencing is something straight out of a sci-fi movie (Strange Days starring a very hairy Ralph Fiennes explored a similar topic).

Whether your average Facebook user will be able to knock out the same glossy, high production value content for their own VR Facebook pages as Queen Bey is anyone’s guess, but we aren’t holding out much hope. If anything, this will probably just end up another way to get penises and boobs on the internet. And of course, you’ll need some pretty nifty gear to create your own quality VR movie clips, which will be beyond the means of most people.

What kind of VR content would you produce and post up on Facebook (dare we ask)? Let us know in the comments below.

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