Facebook is set to introduce new audio features to its platform, including short-form experiences called Soundbites and podcasts, in a move to compete with popular audio chat platform Clubhouse.

Introducing Soundbites

Soundbites are creative audio clips designed for capturing anecdotes, jokes, moments of inspiration, poems, and more. Fidji Simo, Head of Facebook App, announced that Facebook will begin testing Soundbites over the next few months with a select group of creators, refining the product based on their feedback before making it available to all users. To support emerging audio creators, Facebook will launch an ‘Audio Creator Fund’ and seek early feedback on the new product experience.

Podcasts Coming to Facebook

Currently, over 170 million people are connected to hundreds of thousands of podcast pages on Facebook, with more than 35 million people being members of podcast fan groups. However, users previously had to leave the Facebook app to listen to podcasts. Facebook aims to change this by enabling users to listen to podcasts directly on the Facebook app, whether they are actively using the app or it is running in the background. The platform will also assist users in discovering new podcasts and episodes based on their interests.

Live Audio Rooms and Other Features

Facebook plans to introduce Live Audio Rooms, which will be tested initially in Groups, making them available to the 1.8 billion people using Groups monthly and the tens of millions of active communities on Facebook. Additionally, Live Audio Rooms will be launched on Messenger in the summer. The company is also developing a set of new audio creation tools, including the ability to use music from Facebook’s Sound Collection as background, mixing audio tracks, incorporating sound effects, voice effects, and filters. Moreover, Facebook will provide captions for all audio experiences to ensure accessibility for all users.

Monetization and Support for Creators

With the launch of Live Audio Rooms, fans will have the option to support their favorite creators and public figures through features like Stars or by donating to causes they care about. Facebook plans to introduce various monetization models, including the ability to charge for access to a Live Audio Room through a single purchase or subscription, shortly after the launch.

In summary, Facebook’s new audio features aim to enhance the user experience, support creators, and provide opportunities for monetization within the platform.