360 photos, also known as spherical photos, are panoramic images that allow viewers to see in every direction from a single viewpoint. When displayed on platforms that support interactive 360 content, these photos can be rotated to provide an immersive experience. So what social media platforms actually support these increasingly popular 360 photos?
Facebook has been one of the biggest supporters of 360 photos since they started gaining popularity a few years ago. The social media giant allows users to upload and view 360 photos in their feeds and supports 360 photos across both its mobile app and desktop site. When uploading 360 photos to Facebook, users can choose between equirectangular and cube map formats. An equirectangular photo shows the entire 360 scene in a single wide image, while a cube map divides it into six square panels. On mobile devices, users can simply move their phone around to view different parts of a 360 photo in their feed or pivot and tilt to change perspective when viewing one full screen. On desktop, click and drag functionality lets users Rotate a 360 photo to simulate physically moving within the space. When viewed in the Oculus headset using Facebook Spaces, 360 photos are fully immersive 3D environments users can explore by physically moving around.
Facebook also owns Instagram, which has offered 360 photo support since 2017. Users can upload either equirectangular or cube map 360 photos to Instagram from their phone and anyone viewing them on the app can tilt and swipe to change perspective. However, 360 photos don’t yet display interactively for desktop users on Instagram.com. So Facebook definitely dominates when it comes to social platforms embracing 360 photos.
Google supports 360 photos across many of its platforms and services. Users can upload them to Google Photos, where they are recognized as 360 photos and can be interactively viewed by tilting your phone when looking at them full screen. Google Photos has offered this capability since 2016. Google Maps also has a “street view” option for looking around many locations that functions similarly to 360 photos. Additionally, Google Search on mobile allows interactive viewing of 360 photos in results. On desktop, users have to click and drag to change perspective. YouTube and Daydream View VR headset also support 360 degree videos and photos. So Google comes second after Facebook for 360 photo integration.
Twitter has offered 360 photo support since 2016. Uploaded natively within the iOS or Android app, 360 photos will display interactively when viewed full screen on mobile devices. Users can move their phone around to view different parts of the scene. On desktop and mobile browsers, 360 photos don’t display interactively but will still appear as panoramas. Twitter doesn’t explicitly state whether equirectangular, cube map, or both formats are supported, but both seem to work based on user uploads.
Snapchat
Snapchat introduced the ability to take 360 photos within the app way back in 2016. Captured via the camera, Snapchat’s 360 images can be viewed by tilting your phone to change perspective when looking at them full screen. There is also a special “bubble” lens that adds a 3D orb effect when viewing. Users cannot upload existing 360 photos to Snapchat, but the in-app creation tools and seamless sharing definitely make Snapchat one of the top social platforms for 360 photos.
Vimeo
Vimeo has offered 360 video support since 2015 and later added support for still 360 photos as well. Users can upload either equirectangular or stereoscopic 360 photos. Vimeo apps for mobile and TV streaming devices enable motion-based viewing by tilting your phone. Vimeo is one of the only platforms to also offer 360 degree image projection for Oculus headsets, with users able to look around the scene as if standing within it. Desktop viewing relies on click and drag navigation. As a video-focused platform, Vimeo makes a lot of sense for sharing and viewing immersive 360 content.
Other Platforms
In addition to the major social networks above, there are a number of other sites and apps that support 360 photos:
- Flickr – long offered 360 photo support, with click/drag desktop viewing and motion-based mobile viewing
- Tumblr – motion navigation for 360 photos uploaded via mobile app
- EyeEm – popular photography network that allows 360 photo uploads
- Kuula – dedicated 360 photo sharing community app
- WordPress – 360 photos can be embedded using plugins
There are also various VR apps like YouTube VR, Within, and Discovery VR that provide 360 photo viewing optimized for mobile and VR headsets.
Platform | 360 Photo Support |
---|---|
Yes, upload and view interactively on mobile and desktop | |
Yes, can upload but only interactive viewing on mobile app | |
Google Photos | Yes, can upload and view by tilting phone |
Google Maps | Yes, street view uses 360 photo technology |
Yes, can upload and interactively view on mobile | |
Snapchat | Yes, can take 360 photos within the app |
Vimeo | Yes, supports uploading and viewing 360 photos |
Flickr | Yes, supports 360 photo uploads and viewing |
Tumblr | Limited support – can view but not upload 360 photos |
Conclusion
360 photos have gone from a novelty to being integrated into some of the most popular social platforms and apps. Facebook and Google offer the most comprehensive support and tools for sharing and viewing these immersive images. But many other major sites like Twitter, Snapchat, Vimeo, Flickr, and Tumblr have also jumped on board with native 360 photo support tailored to their formats. As virtual reality continues to enter the mainstream, 360 photos help add an interactive, spatial element to traditional digital photo sharing.