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There are four primary types of media: text, audio, video, and photos, however Facebook has yet to introduce a product which enables users to share audio content. One of our readers has noticed that the insights area includes an “Audio” section under media consumption. It has been there for a while and is even referenced in Facebook’s help section however it doesn’t make sense because there’s no product currently linked to this and no data is showing up.
Does this mean that Facebook will soon launch a stand alone audio product? I sure hope so! There are currently a number of third party applications being offered that enabled users to record audio on the go but Facebook could most definitely launch their own version. Audio is one of the most important forms of communication and to be able to leave audio messages to other people directly on their wall would be extremely useful.
Facebook is all about sharing information between users and this includes any form of content (as long as it’s not explicit). While we have no details on what that Audio section is for, I will reach out to Facebook to see if they have any more information. The “Audio” checkbox within the Page Insights area has been around for at least two weeks if not longer but I haven’t found anybody that has covered the rationale behind this feature.
While I’m hoping Facebook will launch their own audio product, at this point we can’t definitively state that one will be offered in the near future. Do you think Facebook Audio would be a useful product?
Thanks to Sam Cornwell for the tip.
Hey Nick,
I have a ‘Music Player’ app that’s added as default on my Facebook Pages. Could that be the one?
interesting…it’ll be odd for a while as we get used to it. I grew up talking on land line phones and then getting used to written interent communications (email, im, social networks) and here audio (voice) could be a big part of internet communication.
Text will always be important to the communication mix because it is so unobtrusive. But, audio is fast and more personal.
Hi Nick. Absolutely, Facebook does have an audio player built-in to the wall. Our clients use it everyday to create audio posts. The Vitrue SRM is the only application suite I know of that leverages this functionality on Facebook specifically for brand managers. Check out this post on my Facebook Page (from the Vitrue SRM) that leverages the Facebook audio player.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Strutton/45314227258
Michael Strutton
VP Product Management
Vitrue, Inc.
It would open up a number of possibilities for sharing music, quick audio recorded messages and much more between your network in Facebook. Very interested to see how this one pans out.
itunes currently includes audio in their updates. Is that a special perk for just them?
Also, the audio plays metric is NOT for iLike tabs/app
I wonder if this could be the beginning stages of Facebook tinkering with music? There has been rumor of a Facebook music section. I think if that happened we could all sit down and watch MySpace just crumble.
Would be cool if you could also record and leave voice on pages and posts too … Like Multiply has!! Nick is so right about Myspace … bye bye!!
Just like the player shown here? http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=118546261172&ref=appd