The battle for live streaming market supremacy has risen a notch with both the Google-owned YouTube, and Facebook, Inc. making new announcements Thursday in an effort to expand their user bases.

YouTube was first, announcing at the VidCon Conference that it is extending its live streaming functionality to the mobile YouTube app.

The company explained in a blog post that YouTube mobile live streaming “will be baked right into the core YouTube mobile app” and that users “won’t need to open anything else, just hit the big red capture button right there in the corner, take or select a photo to use as a thumbnail, and you can broadcast live to your fans and chat in near real time.”

That said, despite its competitors offering lives streaming to all users, YouTube will initially only be providing the functionality to “select creators first,” but will eventually roll the option out to all users.

Facebook

Facebook, which unlike YouTube already offers support for live streams via its app, announced separately that it is adding new features to its live streaming service, including the ability for users to add “masks” (facial overlays) to the live streams, as well as the ability to live broadcast with another person.

The mask feature will let users add different masks and effects to live broadcasts using the MSQRD animated-selfie app Facebook acquired in March; users will be able to transform their appearance into a skeleton, panda or even a cat using the built-in lenses.

Facebook also announced that it is adding support for two people to appear on the one live stream.

The company says that the new feature will enable new kinds of broadcasts, such as interviews, debates, duets, and collaborations.

Last but not least, Facebook is adding the ability for users to schedule live broadcasts so people know when they will be broadcasting and tune in to watch so to speak; those waiting for a broadcast to start will be able to join a “lobby” which will allow viewers to connect with other fans before the video commences.

Initially, the support for two people on live video will only be available for public figures or celebrities with verified pages, with a rollout to other users to come later.

Moving ahead

There’s no question that while YouTube is playing catch up when it comes to live streaming, Facebook is surging ahead with a product that is quickly surpassing the Twitter-owned Periscope, and other platforms, for popularity.

While it may never come to dominate the site, Facebook is quickly becoming the go-to place for live streaming, and with additional features like these it is fully understandable as to why.