Facebook's 360-degree videos arrive on iPhone and Gear VR

Facebook users are getting a neat little update today; they can now watch 360-degree videos.

The social network is expanding support for the immersive News Feed videos in a big way, the company announced. Facebook is adding support for iOS and Gear VR headsets (but not Google Cardboard) and some consumer 360-degree cameras. It's also opening the format to brands who want to experiment with the videos. The functionality has been available since September.

Announcing the news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post, "360 video is a completely new experience because you can move the camera around. This opens new ways of sharing experiences and makes you feel like you're part of what you're watching. It's a step towards even more immersive experiences." He shared a 360-degree video shot by ABC News in North Korea. Zuckerberg added that the support for the new video feature on the social platform will help people to share a lot more 360 content in the future. Notably, Facebook now has 1.1 billion daily active users.

The company has also launched a dedicated site for 360-degree videos where users can get knowledge about recording and sharing the videos. The dedicated website also lists some 360-degree videos shared by Nickelodeon, World Surf League (WSL), VICE, and LeBron. In September, publishers who shared 360-degree videos at launch were GoPro, Discovery, and Saturday Night Live.