Facebook Releases New App To Compete With Tik-Tok

Social media giant Facebook Inc. has released a TikTok-like app called BARS that will let users rap over premade beats and share a video of it with their community.

The new app, which was developed by Facebook's New Product Experimentation (NPE) R&D team is currently available under closed beta testing. The BARS app from Facebook allows users to create and share raps using built-in tools. According to the NPE team, users don't require any formal rap experience to create content using the BARS app.

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The BARS app was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the cancellation of performances having limited how rappers could create and share their work. This, on top of how limited access to recording studios and production equipment can be, is what caused Facebook employee and hip-hop songwriter/ghostwriter D-Lucks to create the app. He describes it as "a place for aspiring rappers to create and share their art."

Unlike traditional short-video sharing apps, Facebook's BARS is specifically designed for creating content in rap style. It includes pre-recorded beats to transform your words into professional-style raps. The app also suggests rhymes using a rhyming dictionary to keep your flow going. Further, there is a Challenge mode in which you'll get the ability to freestyle along with auto-suggested word cues.

Once you're done with your lyrics and flow, the Facebook BARS app also provides you with a variety of audio and visual filters to enhance your rap content. You'll get preloaded tools such as Clean, AutoTune, Imaginary Friends, and AM Radio to change your vocal output in the video.

Facebook says the beats featured are all professionally created, allowing users to create high-quality, TikTok-like short videos featuring their own work without having to spend the time or money on creating background tracks.