Facebook intensifies podcast service
Facebook on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) said it is adding podcasts and “live audio rooms” in a push to get people talking and take on the fast-growing audio-based app Clubhouse.
“We think a lot of magic happens at the intersection of audio formats, as well as at the confluence of text, audio and video,” Facebook app chief Fidji Simo said in a blog post.
Facebook’s plan to weave audio offerings into the social network comes as it works to prevent losing users to Clubhouse.
Facebook has seen a steady rise in users opting for voice, from audio calls at the social network to leaving spoken messages using WhatsApp of Messenger.
The Silicon Valley titan is building new audio creation tools Simo described as “like having a sound studio in your pocket.”
The tools will let people create short-form Soundbites such as jokes, anecdotes, or spontaneous thoughts, according to Simo.
“While we’re big believers in the power of short-form audio, we also know that some stories and conversations deserve more airtime,” Simo said.
More than 170 million people are connected to Facebook pages centered on podcasts and some 35 million users are members of podcast fan groups, but listening to one required leaving the social network.
“Within the next few months, you’ll be able to listen to podcasts directly on the Facebook app — both while using the app or when the app is backgrounded,” Simo said.
As part of the move into podcasts, Facebook will be expanding its partnership with Spotify so users can share and listen to podcasts, according to the company.
Facebook also planned to begin testing Live Audio Rooms, expected the feature to be available to all users by the middle of this year.
To make its audio offerings sustainable for the long term, Facebook is building in ways for people creating content to make money, according to Simo.
Creators hosting Live Audio Rooms will be able to get paid directly by fans and Facebook plans to add the option to charge for access, Simo said.
Safety and privacy safeguards are also being added to audio features, according to the social network.