Facebook testing voice clip status updates in India
What's the story
In a bid to bring more people, speaking regional languages, on board, Facebook is beta-testing a micropodcasting feature in India which will enable status updates through voice clips. For many people in India, and abroad, who face barriers on non-native language keyboards, micropodcasting would give greater depth to expression. Here are the details about Facebook's plans.
Information
How to access voice clip status updates
If you've been selected for the beta, you can find the 'Add Voice Clip' option in the status update composer menu that includes photo uploads, check-ins etc. Once selected, a user can see a waveform of their voice. Voice clips can be of any length.
Beta testing
Facebook is trying to get more users to share
The feature, which has been rolled out to a small number of people in India, was first spotted by Abhishek Saxena from Assam. Facebook later confirmed the same to TechCrunch. With Facebook losing out to alternative social media platforms, voice clip status updates would enable people to share compelling and deeply personal content without considerations about surroundings, complexities of video messages, etc.
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Facebook confirms testing voice clip status updates
"We are always working to help people share and connect with their friends and family on Facebook in ways that are authentic to them. Voice Clips gives people a new medium through which to express themselves," said a Facebook spokesperson to TechCrunch.
Tough times
Facebook sees first sign of struggle, as it ages
For some time now, Facebook has been struggling to get people to share more personal content rather than generic content available on other sites. Original content on Facebook had seen a year-on-year decline of 21% in mid-2015 and again 15% in mid-2016, says data. In Q4 2017, Facebook saw its first-ever dip in daily active users in US and Canada - a loss of 700,000 users.