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MrBeast Challenges Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s Multilingual Capabilities
MrBeast, the renowned YouTube creator known for his astounding 378 million subscribers, recently made headlines after making a surprising appearance during an interview with Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta. In this candid exchange, MrBeast proposed significant changes he would implement if given the opportunity to run the company, prompting Zuckerberg’s commitment to action within the year.
The conversation unfolded in an episode of the “Colin and Samir” podcast, where Zuckerberg, now 40, discussed pressing issues like Facebook’s latest feature, the Friends tab, which focuses on user-generated content rather than suggested posts for North American users.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, interjected into the discussion with a nuanced suggestion concerning Facebook. He expressed the need for Facebook Video to support audio tracks in various languages, allowing creators to reach a broader audience through dubbed content.
“If I were in charge, that’s something I would fast-track right away,” Donaldson stated, underscoring the potential impact of this functionality.
Currently, YouTube enables Donaldson to upload videos with audio translations that automatically adjust based on the viewer’s geographical location. For instance, if a user from Mexico clicks on a video, it plays with Spanish audio. This feature is conspicuously absent on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
Zuckerberg responded positively to Donaldson’s suggestion, labeling it a “good idea,” and assured that Facebook aims to introduce such dubbing capabilities within the next year. He also indicated that artificial intelligence could play a crucial role in facilitating this multilingual approach in the future.
Donaldson revealed his own trials with AI for dubbing, pointing out that his content retention rates improved by 1% when utilizing AI instead of human voice actors due to the algorithmic mimicry of his vocal style.
“In an ideal scenario, I could simply upload a video to Facebook, tick a box, and have AI generate dubs in 20 languages,” Donaldson remarked, illustrating his vision for a more inclusive platform.
This addition could enhance his ability to connect with audiences, particularly since he estimates that around 70% of his viewers do not communicate in English. He noted that many of his most popular YouTube videos attract millions of views from Spanish and Portuguese speakers.
Donaldson emphasized the hardship of sharing dubbed content on Facebook, stating, “When I share those same videos on your platforms, I’m unable to import the dubs, leading to significantly lower viewership. Without dubbing, reaching a global audience is particularly challenging.”
Statistics reveal that the three countries with the largest Facebook user bases include India (378 million), the United States (193 million), and Indonesia (119 million), highlighting the potential market for dubbed content.
Due to the lack of dubbing options, many of Donaldson’s top videos on Facebook and Instagram feature him in silence. One of his most viewed Instagram videos, which garnered over 250 million views, showcases him running with increasingly heavier bundles of cash, all without dialogue.
Despite these challenges, Donaldson acknowledged the vast potential of Facebook Video, praising its massive user base and the unique opportunity it presents for creators to engage with audiences worldwide.
Recent data from Sprout Social indicates that Facebook remains the premier social media platform, boasting over 3 billion monthly active users, surpassing that of Instagram and TikTok, both of which have around two billion users each.
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