Facebook buys popular face swapping app for silly selfies
Facebook is buying the company behind one of the most popular apps in the App Store, Masquerade.
Masquerade's app lets you overlay playful, animated filters over your face using your phone's selfie camera. The effects range from Leonardo DiCaprio at the Oscars (right) to a monkey, and they're fun to play with. You can record video in the app or take a still photo to share on other social networks.
Expect Masquerade's face swapping filters to show up in the Facebook app eventually.
The social network also plans to keep Masquerade operational as a standalone, free app, as well as integrating its technology into Facebook. The effects join a line of creative tools Facebook has added to its app already, like stickers, finger doodles, and photo filters.
Masquerade has been a hit in its short time on the App Store. It has an average rating of 5 stars and has consistently stayed near the top of the App Store's charts, according to App Annie. It's also available on Android phones.