Tech question: still images as video on Facebook

[Underseer]

All of a sudden, I am seeing a ton of super short videos that consist of a single still image on my Facebook feed.

Something about this smells like an exploit, not that I would know.

Since we have a lot of tech savvy people around here, I was hoping that maybe one of you know. Until I understand why this is happening, I will refrain from sharing any of these "still images as video" things.

 

[ZiprHead]

Noticed that myself but I'm not tech savvy enough to explain it. I do know it makes it difficult to copy the image.

 

[Underseer]

Everything about this smells like "Hey, I found a new exploit."

 

[J842P]

Um, are you talking about animated GIFs?

https://www.wired.com/2015/05/real-gif-posting-on-facebook/

Or literally just videos of a still image?

I haven't seen the latter.

 

[ZiprHead]

Videos of a still image, usual runs around 10 to 15 seconds then loops continuously.

 

[Underseer]

Um, are you talking about animated GIFs?

https://www.wired.com/2015/05/real-gif-posting-on-facebook/

Or literally just videos of a still image?

I haven't seen the latter.

No. I'm not talking about videos, although I didn't check the filename extension. GIF files have the word GIF with a dotted circle outline. These have a play button and a progress bar like a video. The video is generally super short with only a single still image.

 

[bigfield]

Videos of a still image, usual runs around 10 to 15 seconds then loops continuously.

Could be a slideshow with only one image.

 

[braces_for_impact]

Um, are you talking about animated GIFs?

https://www.wired.com/2015/05/real-gif-posting-on-facebook/

Or literally just videos of a still image?

I haven't seen the latter.

No. I'm not talking about videos, although I didn't check the filename extension. GIF files have the word GIF with a dotted circle outline. These have a play button and a progress bar like a video. The video is generally super short with only a single still image.

I have seen some (usually poorly made) apps that share a frame from a video that do just as you describe. The quality is usually quite bad though, and to me not worth the effort.