Facebook launched a live audio chat tool in the United States on Monday, which intends to compete with the Clubhouse chat app, which has soared in popularity thanks to the pandemic.
“Live Audio Rooms” offers US users of the social media giant to listen and sometimes participate in conversations led by celebrities or “influencers” and create fundraising on the platform.
The new audio features “allow you to discover, listen to and join live conversations with public figures, experts and others on topics that interest you,” said Fiji Simo, director of Facebook App, in a statement.
“Public figures can invite friends, followers, other verified public figures, or any listener in the lounge to be a speaker. The organizer can invite speakers in advance or during the conversation. ’50 speakers at a time and there is no limit to the number of listeners, ”adds Simo.
Facebook asked several personalities for the launch of its new product, including rapper D Smoke, singer Kehlani and activist and civil rights defender DeRay Mckesson.
The audio formats market has exploded during the pandemic, led by start-up Clubhouse, which says it has attracted more than 10 million users since its launch last year.
Twitter and Spotify have also recently offered live audio services.
The group led by Mark Zuckerberg also announced Monday that it will offer podcasts created by personalities in the United States, which will be available directly from its mobile application.
According to financial analysis firm Finbold, podcast advertising revenue will generate a record $ 1.34 billion in the United States in 2021. This amount will rise to 1.7 billion next year and 2.18 billion in 2023, Finbold estimates.
The Facebook announcements come as criticism has grown over the monopoly of US tech giants over entire swathes of the economy, with some lawmakers openly calling for the dismantling of these companies.
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