Recent actions by social media giant hint at its plans to expand reach
Facebook has grown phenomenally over the past few years. The social networking company now owns photo-sharing app Instagram as well as messaging app Whatsapp. That said, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that FB is triyng to absolutely own the social media space, and its recent actions make one wonder whether the firm will go the same way as tech giant Apple.
Reports suggest that the social media giant is looking at making its own operating system to reduce dependence on Android. There is only a limited amount of information about how the new operating system could be used, but it is noted that both Facebook’s Oculus and Portal devices currently run on a modified version of Android. According to one of Facebook’s AR and VR heads, it’s possible that Facebook’s future hardware won’t need to rely on Google’s software, which would reduce or remove entirely the control Google has over Facebook’s hardware. Apart fromdeveloping its own OS, other reports have stated that Facebook is working on its own custom chip hardware, alongside the voice assistant that it confirmed it’s working on earlier this year.
And it is not just the OS aspect in which FB is reportedly aping Apple. Reports also suggest that Facebook is in the midst of negotiating new licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group, in order to secure the rights to include music videos on its Watch platform.Facebook’s current deals with record companies let users include songs in the background of videos they post on the social network, such as a clip from a wedding or a skateboarding stunt. But Facebook doesn’t yet have the rights to offer the official music videos to hit songs.
If Facebook were able to secure the rights to include music videos, that could make it a more viable alternative to YouTube, while it could also look to offer better terms to rights holders, which could, potentially, also see Facebook hosting exclusive clips. That would be a major win for it.
