Facebook Is Testing 'Voice Clips' In Status Updates

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Can’t write it, or you’re too self-conscious to film it? You may soon be able to just say it. Facebook has confirmed it is testing a new Voice Clips feature in status updates.

As Facebook tests a multitude of ways to get users to share more personal updates on its platform, it has recently confirmed that it has given some users in India the ability to record Voice Clips as status updates. The test was first spotted by Abhishek Saxena, and later confirmed by Facebook to TechCrunch, via spokesperson, who gave the typical Facebook canned vague response: “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.”

Facebook has had some trouble getting people to share more personal information on its platform in the last few years. After all, that’s why it’s also turning its attention to “friends and family” vs “brands and publishers” lately. That’s why it also tried to spice things up a bit, by introducing its own version of Stories – but that didn’t turn out that well.

Other features, such as Lists, or “Did you Know” might bring better results.

Features like Voice Clips may help people open up a bit more on their status updates, as it gives them a voice, without the need to record a video or to share something visual.

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Features like Voice Clips may help people open up a bit more on their status updates, as it gives them a voice, without the need to record a video or to share something visual. Perhaps that’s all people want. Especially if all they have is an older smartphone that can’t record great-looking video.

Either way, Facebook is a well-known “growth hacker,” so its tests are always informed by data. Perhaps Voice Clips (as opposed to video) have already had a lot of success on Messenger – where they have been available for some time. What we do know, is that podcasting is becoming a huge deal. Could this be the beginning of a “micropodcasting” trend, with Facebook at the helm?