In the last few years, Facebook has been in the news for either lax security of user information, or standing by while their platform was used by bad actors (including foreign nations) to spread misinformation, dissent, and revolt.
So it's refreshing when the social media giant is in the news for improvements made to their app and user experience.
Image by Thomas Ulrich
In the coming months, Facebook users will be able to listen to podcasts on the app, both while the app is in use or in the background. It is also launching Soundbites, an audio creation tool to capture and share short-form audio. The social media network notes that more than 170 million people are connected to "hundreds of thousands of" podcast pages on the app.
These listeners will soon be able to listen to, comment on, and share podcasts on the app itself. Live Audio Rooms is a new feature for members of Facebook groups, which will be available by summer. Similar to audio-only networking app Clubhouse, Facebook's Live Audio Rooms will be available to "public figures so they can host conversations."
For creators, Soundbites will allow recording and editing short-form audio, including removal of background noise and multiple voice effects.
Fans will be able to support creators through Stars while Facebook works on other monetization models such as "the ability to charge for access to a Live Audio Room through a single purchase or a subscription."
Facebook is beta testing an audio app called Hotline in the U.S. Gizmodo describes it as a "love child between Instagram Live and Clubhouse;" a mix of voice chatting, Q&A, and audio-only social media.
With the Apple announcement of its premium podcast subscription service and other podcast-centric initiatives and Facebook's serious entry into the podcast market, the podcast industry continues to see investments by large tech and content companies into the ever-expanding podcast industry.
How all this concentration, consolidation, investment, and initiative will have on podcasting remains to be seen.
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