Facebook Takes On Clubhouse With Live Audio Rooms

Facebook is testing Live Audio Rooms in Taiwan as a solution to go up against audio-based social competitor Clubhouse and is planning to introduce a lineup of public figures and makers to generate content, including podcasts and other tools to streamline creation, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (May 11).

The social media giant will soon launch a trial that will enable group voice conversations similar to Clubhouse as Facebook moves toward its tool being available in Messenger and the Facebook app. The company is also planning to integrate its Stars feature into the audio chat product and will let fans buy tokens to support their favorites, much like they do on the live streaming platform Twitch.

Clubhouse gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its informal, voice-only app was kicked into prominence with drop-in talks from notable figures like Elon Musk. Facebook is also considering shareable audio for jokes and anecdotes. The Clubhouse app has been available on iOS for a year and is now also available to Android smartphone users.

Facebook Shops in March said stores on its eCommerce portal Shops have topped 1 million sellers and more than 250 users. Facebook introduced Shops in May 2020 for eCommerce and social selling.

How it will all work out remains to be seen. “We’re working hard to open up to everyone! Anyone can join with an invite from an existing user, or sign up for the waitlist to reserve your username.”

Facebook announced in April that it would launch tools to go up against Clubhouse, with the company looking to increase investments on audio features over the coming years. Other social platforms have attempted to launch their own versions of Clubhouse, including LinkedIn and Slack Technologies.