facebook ceo mark zuckerberg hosts first test of live audio rooms in us

Facebook Launches Public Test of Live Audio Rooms

In April, Facebook unveiled a range of new audio-focused products, notably including Live Audio Rooms, a feature conceptually similar to Clubhouse. This functionality is designed for use across both the Facebook platform and Messenger. Public testing of these audio rooms commenced in Taiwan during May, involving prominent individuals. Today, however, marked the company’s inaugural public trial of Live Audio Rooms within the United States.

Event Hosted by Mark Zuckerberg

The event was personally led by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who engaged in conversation with other executives and content creators. Participants included Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, VP and Head of Facebook Reality Labs, Fidji Simo, Head of the Facebook App, and three creators from Facebook Gaming: StoneMountain64, QueenEliminator, and TheFierceDivaQueen.

The creators shared insights into their experiences within the Facebook gaming ecosystem, discussing the games they stream and related topics. Zuckerberg also briefly previewed upcoming gaming enhancements, including a new post format, “Looking for Players,” intended to connect creators with fellow gamers during live streams.

New Features for Creators and Fans

Badges earned during livestreams will now be transferable to fan groups, a feature frequently requested by both creators and their audiences, according to Zuckerberg. Furthermore, access to fan groups will be extended to all partnered Facebook Gaming creators starting today, with wider availability planned in the coming weeks.

Live Audio Room Experience

The user experience within Live Audio Rooms closely mirrors that of comparable platforms such as Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces. Hosts are displayed as rounded profile icons at the screen's top, while listeners appear as smaller icons at the bottom. A central section showcases individuals followed by the speakers.

The currently speaking participant is highlighted with a dynamic ring utilizing Facebook’s signature blue, purple, and pink hues. Verified speakers are indicated by a blue checkmark next to their name.

Listeners can express reactions to the live content using the “Thumbs Up” button. They also have the option to share the Audio Room via Facebook posts, Groups, direct messages, or other applications.

Accessibility and Reporting

A toggle switch, accessible through the room’s “more” menu, allows users to enable or disable automatically generated captions, enhancing accessibility. This menu also provides options for reporting users or any technical issues encountered.

Currently, the Live Audio Room does not include features for requesting to speak or joining the speakers on stage; it functions primarily as a broadcast from a select group to a wider audience.

Limited Initial Availability

Prior to today’s public test, reports surfaced from users who observed the Audio Rooms option appearing within their Facebook apps. However, the company confirmed that testing within the U.S. was initially restricted to employees. The Live Audio Rooms feature is presently available only on iOS and Android devices.

Facebook’s Vision for the Creator Economy

Zuckerberg utilized the event to elaborate on Facebook’s future plans for supporting the creator economy. He stated, “A good vision for the future is one where a lot more people get to do creative work and work that they enjoy, and fewer people have to do work that they just find a chore.”

He further explained the need for diverse monetization tools, stating, “Not all creators are going to have the same business model. So having the ability to basically use a lot of different tools… that will be important.” These tools include Stars, ad revenue sharing, subscriptions, and direct sales.

Expanding Support Beyond Gaming

Zuckerberg emphasized that Facebook’s initiatives extend beyond gaming, with plans to support journalists, writers, and other content creators. This likely alludes to the forthcoming launch of Bulletin, a platform resembling Substack, anticipated later this month.

The company also intends to initially forgo taking a percentage of revenue generated by creators, a decision Zuckerberg framed as beneficial during the economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competitive Landscape

However, this decision is also strategically aimed at attracting creators to Facebook’s platform amidst increasing competition. Platforms like Clubhouse offer creators 100% of their revenue, while Twitter is integrating its audio product, Spaces, with a suite of creator tools including newsletters and subscription options.

While Zuckerberg did not specify a public release date for Live Audio Rooms, he indicated that the feature would become available to “a lot more people soon.”