Evan ThomasWhat you're doing isn't enough: Facebook's latest feature will also keep an ear on what you're watching and listening to.
The listening feature uses your mobile device's microphone to identify the song, television show or movie currently playing so you can add it to your status update.
You choose which of your friends get the update, the feature can be turned off at any time, and "No sound is stored and you'll always get to choose whether you post to your friends." (Via Facebook)
In the timeline, these updates will automatically include a 30-second clip of the song, or info and links to the show or movie playing. There's good and bad to it, says The Verge.
"Audio recognition will be useful for the millions of Facebook users who post their latest jams and binge TV-watching sessions in status updates, but it could also incite fear and skepticism in some."
Facebook does seem aware of this, Re/code says, once again clarifying a new feature is optional right in its debut headline. "Facebook took great care to warn that the company isn't actually recording anything you're doing."
This is the latest development from Facebook, which has spent the past year cranking out hashtags and activity icons in what TechCrunch calls attempts to boost engagement.
"But there's also a lot of money to be made by being the digital watercooler. It can then use that targeting data to coax big TV studios, movie producers, and record labels to buy ad campaigns."
Facebook says the feature will roll out for both iOS and Android in the coming weeks.
