TV channels have the benefit of being able to schedule their live events in advance. Why shouldn’t you be able to do the same on Facebook?

Well, now you can. This week, the social network released new features for its Facebook Live platform, which is being rolled out first to Verified Pages.

It’s boosting the live broadcasting platform to a new level: Previously, streamers would just hit live without alerting anyone, or waste time with the stream in the beginning to get an audience together. Now, streamers can announce their event with a link, which can be shared; an announcement post; or even a scheduled broadcast, which can be slotted up to a week in advance. Viewers can join a “pre-stream lobby” three minutes before the show starts.

This follows Facebook’s announcement that viewers can now stream Facebook Live videos to their televisions, via Apple TV and Google Chromecast.

Tweet of the Day

#YMBlog Don't let FB + LinkedIn have your cake + eat it. Stop giving #association members to them https://t.co/NnkDdXJhkn #AssnChat #YMKnows pic.twitter.com/AiYpmrjhos

— YourMembership (@yourmembership) October 19, 2016

Obviously, Facebook Live is cool, but social networks raise some existential questions for associations. It’s something we’ve talked about before at Associations Now: Associations serve professions and industries with niche content, education opportunities, and networking platforms. Problem is, the big social networks can threaten that role.

YourMembership’s Quinn Brady fleshes out these concerns and sings the praises of private social networks at her company’s blog.

Other noteworthy links

Is the internet getting harder to read? Digital rights advocate Kevin Marks argues that developers have changed their design standards and approaches to color, creating pages that look pretty but are much harder to read. Check out his post on Backchannel.

While lots of folks are willing to volunteer, time is a constraint. Basil Sadiq of Volunteer Match and Sara Wessling of the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration offer a guide on engaging short-term volunteers.

What to do about salary history? Massachusetts now prohibits employers from asking job candidates for salary history. Is this about to become an issue for associations? Think it through with David M. Patt at his Association Executive Management blog.

(Facebook)