Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no escaping it.
Voice messaging has become extremely popular within the past few years especially amongst Millenials and Gen-Zers.Â
While many social media and messaging apps have developed their own voice-sharing features WhatsApp is still the platform of choice when it comes to sharing short voice messages with friends.
But that may all change very soon…
This week Instagram rolled out its own voice messaging feature within Instagram Direct (also known as “DMs”).Â
The photo- and Story-sharing platform may be getting into the voice messaging game a bit late, but it will definitely make Insta-DMing more appealing to the platform’s user base.Â
Starting today, you can send voice messages in Direct. Talk the way you want to be heard, whether by whispering what you’re up to or shouting a compliment. pic.twitter.com/3rkdQneNXO
— Instagram (@instagram) December 10, 2018
Keen to start using Insta Voice Messaging with your friends? Here’s how it works.
Open Instagram on your smartphone and go into your DM’s. Tap the “+” icon in the upper right corner, as if you’re going to create a new message to send to another Insta-user. Select an account from your list, as you normally would.Â
At the bottom of your screen, a text box will appear. You’ll see a microphone icon next to the share/upload image icons on the right side. Hold it down with your finger and speak directly into your phone. Release your finger once you’re finished and the voice message will be sent to the other user.
Aren’t happy with your voice message? Don’t want to send it? Keep your finger on your screen and slide it left, to the trash icon. Your voice message will then be deleted and you can re-record another message.
According to TechCrunch Instagram voice messages can be up to one minute long.Â
Make sure to enable your microphone feature on Instagram so you’re able to use voice messages and double check before sending anything because you won’t be able to delete the voice message once it’s sent.
Can’t find the voice messaging feature within your app? Try updating the app or logging out and back in again.
While it’s an interesting and fun feature for Instagram, most users view the platform as a photo- and Story-sharing app as its primary function.
As other communications and social media apps roll out similar features to their competitors, there’s starting to be a lot of overlap between features within platforms. What used to be a distinguishing feature for one app now overlaps with another, as platforms try to attract new users and keep existing fans happy.
YouTube recently rolled out a Story-sharing feature (for channels with over 10k subscribers), so Instagram is definitely not the first platform to “copy” features from other communication apps.
Will you use Instagram voice messaging? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Written by Doa’a El Khouly and Laura Kell. Photo credits: FreePic.