Can you smell what The Rock is cooking? Probably not, but Facebook might help you see what The Rock is cooking, thanks to a new feature in its Mentions app.
The social media colossus on Wednesday announced that its Mentions app -- which helps public figures connect to their followers -- is getting an update that will allow verified users to broadcast live video footage directly to their fans via Facebook.
Essentially, a celebrity can use the iOS app to begin a live video session. Average Joe users like you and me who follow, say, The Rock will see a message within the normal Facebook app that says, "Dwayne The Rock Johnson is live." Tap it up, and you'll see live footage. Users can comment on the proceedings while they happen, just like on Meerkat or Periscope -- live streaming apps that anyone can use.
Facebook promises that Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Serena Williams, Luke Bryan, Ricardo Kaka, Ashley Tisdale, Lester Holt -- the kids love him -- Martha Stewart and Michael Buble will all broadcast via Mentions "in the coming days."
Don't worry if you miss out on a live stream: The a celeb's video footage will be archived on his or her respective page, Facebook says, though the celeb can choose to remove it later. As Techcrunch's Josh Constine points out, that gives it a leg up on rival services.
Another cause for concern for those rivals: Facebook already boasts a captive audience of 1.49 billion monthly users.