Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is retiring audio channels in groups, marking the end of its social audio push. This move is a result of Meta’s cost-cutting measures and the declining popularity of audio-only interaction options, with Clubhouse’s meteoric rise in early 2021 now bottoming out. Other social audio options have also been shelved or de-prioritized in other apps. The sudden rise of audio-social was a pandemic-induced fad, providing another way for people to connect, but the demand for these options is not there anymore. While Clubhouse still has a dedicated user base, most apps are now moving on and cutting costs associated with supporting live audio elements. This is a reminder not to put too much emphasis on any one channel and to keep in mind that trends are just that until they have stood the relevant test of time. With this shift, Twitter Spaces and Clubhouse are the only remaining pieces of what was once seen as the next billion-dollar opportunity, but the tide can quickly shift, and huge trends can rise and fall just as fast.
