4 Things to Know About Meerkat

It seems like every day, there is a new social media platform in the news. Staying up-to-date on digital trends and new technologies can be challenging – after all, it is constantly growing, changing, and evolving!

The latest buzz has been around Meerkat, the app that allows users to live stream and share video in real-time. Since it’s late-February launch, Meerkat has gone viral and has paved the way for other similar apps, such as Periscope.

Many experts say that ‘going viral’ isn’t necessarily a good sign. (Think of all the other platforms and apps that went viral but are now virtually nonexistent.)

Whether or not the app is here to stay, here’s four things you should know about Meerkat:

You can relax. Meerkat videos can’t be stored and re-watched at a later time. If you make a mistake or have a less than ideal first experience, you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing it again.

It might change the way you receive news. There is a lot of talk about the app changing the way we broadcast our news, even for large scale events like the Presidential Election, concerts, award shows, and breaking news stories. Every one now has the ability to report and share news – citizen journalists rejoice!

You don’t have to have a Twitter – but it will help. Meerkat syncs with your Twitter account, making it easier for people to follow you and respond to your videos. Your followers will be notified by Meerkat and can then comment in the form of Twitter replies. However, anyone with the link can access the video and watch what you’re streaming.

Beware of copyright infringement. This law is easy to break without even realizing you’ve done so. The rules are wishy-washy and real-time footage can be difficult to monitor, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. Filming and sharing material that isn’t explicitly yours could pose a serious issue and frankly is just not cool.

Are you already on Meerkat? Or are you thinking of joining? What do you think?

What are some of the most interesting facts you’ve learned or heard about Meerkat? Leave your comment in the space below!