Facebook is working, in parallel, on two Clubhouse clones: the first will be inside Instagram, while the second inside Messenger.
Facebook’s answer to Clubhouse? Messenger’s audio rooms. That’s how the social networking bigwig plans to curb the growing strength of the platform dedicated to voice communication. And, according to experts, an experimental version of the new feature would already be ready for the first tests.
As reported by the New York Times during the last month of February, the platform led by Mark Zuckerberg would already be working to be able to realize as soon as possible its very personal version of the all-vocal social network, still available exclusively for iOS operating system and only by invitation. Interesting details about Facebook’s approach to the integration of the new features come directly from reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who managed to find some information within the code of the social network application, in the version dedicated to devices with Android operating system.
Messenger audio rooms, how they will work
At the moment, according to screenshots posted on Twitter by Paluzzi, the experimental version of the new feature provides the user with three different types of rooms. The modes include the creation of private audio rooms, exclusively with the user’s selected friend contacts, private video rooms and, finally, broadcast audio rooms that allow all participants to listen.
The latest iteration, therefore, could replicate the operation of Clubhouse, even overcoming the technical limit of 50 participants currently present, as reported by TechCrunch. It would therefore be a further step towards the model of the most recent platform that, with Messenger, also shares a similar style, with at the top of the list of participants the profile picture and the name of the speaker, followed by the icons of the other participants in a smaller format.
Furthermore, always according to Paluzzi, it will not be necessary to open the Messenger rooms in order to participate in the broadcasts. From the interface, instead, it will be possible to view the name of the audio room, the number of speakers and participants, so as to constantly have a complete overview of the room.
Messenger audio rooms, the confirmation of the social
Contacted by TechCrunch on the issue, Facebook has confirmed the veracity of the images published by Paluzzi cataloging them as early exploratory attempts. The final product, however, could be completely different once confirmed the integration with the platform.
Remember, finally, that the Facebook group is also simultaneously working on a voice chat for Instagram.