Meta's Facebook is no longer focusing on housing a podcast platform. The social media giant has decided that it will remove all podcasts from its platform starting next month, on June 3.
In June 2021, Facebook implemented numerous features that cater podcasting for creators. However, only a year after entering the podcasting game, the company has decided to exit the field altogether.
Following the success of the live audio app Clubhouse, Facebook launched its live audio and podcast service in June 2021, coinciding with a craze for social audio platforms.
This week, in a memo written by the company to its partners, the social media platform will cease allowing users to add podcasts to its platform, and it will delete all podcasts starting on June 3.
Facebook Podcasts
Facebook podcasts, taking effect from June 3, will discontinue its support for podcasts and will remove them entirely from the social media service.
Last April, The Meta-owned social media platform unveiled a number of audio initiatives, coinciding with a booming industry for podcasts and audio in general. However, according to a story published last month by Bloomberg News, the company's enthusiasm has dropped and it is now concentrating on other efforts, which has disappointed several providers.
This comes after it rebranded its company to Meta. Since then, the company has made headlines in focusing on developing their Metaverse technology.
Earlier this week, Facebook sent a notice to its partners informing them that it will no longer allow users to upload podcasts to the site. It will phase out both its short-form audio product Soundbites and its core audio hub, which will be decommissioned.
According to Bloomberg, Meta spokesperson stated, "We're constantly evaluating the features we offer so we can focus on the most meaningful experiences." Additionally, the spokesperson did not mention a specific date on when they would pull out Soundbites and the audio hub, although they mentioned that it will most likely be in the coming weeks.
Facebook Audio and Podcasts
Meta's Facebook, in the statement to its partners, stated that it does not intend to notify users that podcasts would no longer be available, instead, the company will leave it up to the podcast publishers to determine how they wish to communicate this information to their audience.
As reported by Business Insider, the social media giant launched the Live Audio Rooms feature in the platform, moving forward, this feature will be integrated into Facebook Live. The integration of the feature will allow users to choose between going live with just audio or going live with audio and video.
In recent years, the podcast market has become increasingly congested. Spotify, aside from being a music streaming platform, has grown to significantly dominate the space of podcasting. In line with that, the company plans to invest more and have more creators on board.
Aside from Spotify, Clubhouse, and Facebook, Amazon is also reportedly dipping its toes on podcasts.
Last year, Facebook began rolling out these products, beginning with the launch of Live Audio Rooms in the United States for iOS. The venture of the playform to podcasts began with prominent personalities and select Facebook Groups, as well as the introduction of an initial group of podcasts partners in the United States.
Previously, Facebook's Live Audio Rooms were made available to any verified public figure or creator in the United States who is in good standing with the social media platform and who is using either a profile or the new Facebook Pages experience on iOS
Nevertheless, all Facebook users this week in the United States will still be able to listen to Live Audio Rooms and podcasts on the social media platform.
