While 360 degree videos have been making a big splash on Facebook recently, photos are about to get the whirl and twirl treatment.

In a spin

Facebook will soon be converting panoramic images into 360 creations.

The images will appear in the News Feed and function in a similar way to 360 degree videos, allowing users to drag and pan across the photo. 

Mobile users can view different angles by moving their phone or tablet, while Facebook's 360 degree photos can be accessed by owners of Samsung's Gear VR headset.

Look up

The update hints at Facebook's considerable investment in 360 and Virtual Reality.

Facebook has offered support for 360 videos since late 2015, and recently revealed that 1 million monthly users now use the Samsung Gear for 25 minutes per day on the platform.

Expect more content to be created for VR audiences, especially after Facebook's own Oculus Rift headset launches later this year.