By: The Guardian
April 20, 2021
Facebook has announced plans to launch new audio products and features in an aggressive move to take on competitors including Twitter and Clubhouse, an invitation-only audio platform that has generated significant buzz.
Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement in an interview with Casey Newton, a former tech reporter for the Verge who now runs his own newsletter, saying the social media network had plans in the coming months to launch features including short-form audio clips called “Soundbites”, as well as live audio rooms. The CEO said there would soon be a way for users to discover and play podcasts on Facebook as well.
The new features closely resemble those of Clubhouse, an audio app that has grown substantially since it was launched with much fanfare a year ago. The platform, which remains invitation-only, allows users to tune into audio rooms to listen to speeches, talks and conversations, much like an audio-only conference.