WhatsApp voice notes / voice messages

[Unicornsaregreat]

I have a couple of new(ish) friends & we communicate mainly via WhatsApp voice messages. I really like hearing their voices and a bit of banter. We keep the messages short but it really cheers me up to get their messages and I find it a nice way to communicate. (They do use written messages if they are just saying “yes, see you there” etc)

I’ve tried using voice notes with a couple of other friends and they just replied with a short written message. Fair enough. So I probably won’t try it again.

Then another friend was saying she finds voice notes awful, she absolutely hates them.

What’s your view on communicating via voice notes?

Love them. A friend and I have mismatched schedules and we regularly leave each other longish voice notes as we can't speak often on the phone. It's like a long term chat back and forth.
We love them because you can get for more info into a voice note and listen to them while walking/driving/washing up, rather than sat down, which we rarely get a chance to do at the moment!

Hate them when they are the only message sent. Is it urgent? Chatter or info I need? I won't find out until I have time and privacy to listen back, which might be hours from now.

I want a quick text: Can you meet at 7 instead 6? Will explain! Then followed by a voice message with the rambling, amusing reason.

Hate because later when I want to reply o have to listen again, it's efficient for the sender but not the recipient. Different if it's just a hi, love you. But if it's a proper message with information and questions, totally hate it

I find them annoying because I find it difficult to remember everything in the note and respond to it all at once and I find it really hard to navigate the little clip on such a tiny screen. I don't like having a long back and forth of voice notes that I can't easily re-read or instantly see which info is in each one. If you play it out in public everyone can hear, which is antisocial as well as cringey. If I'm texting while trying to get baby to sleep etc then I can't play sound out loud.

I love having a conversation with someone voice to voice, on the phone or face to face, but I do not like the use of voice notes because it takes parts away from the conversation format which are essential IMO.

I know that some people use them because they find typing very difficult or need to keep their attention on a young child etc in which case I don't mind so much, but in general if people can type I would prefer that they did. Or just phone me!

I like them (giving and receiving!) for an amusing anecdote which would lose meaning in words. Especially if I get to do an impression in the telling. But not for day to day mundanity.

This is a good compromise!

Love them! I forgot to reply very easily to messages or get around to it a day later and write a story lol. I can voicenote on the go and add in detail

Don’t mind receiving but think I’ve only ever sent one.

I associate them with work as we sometimes use them for admittedly minor matters. Never really use them with friends or family.

Depends on my mood. I hate phone calls but don't mind voice notes. Some of my friends voice note me and I just text back, sometimes I feel like sending voice notes... I never feel like calling anybody though.

They're annoying as I often receive them when I can't listen to them, like while I'm at work in the office .

@Greensleevevssnotnose oh I've tried suggesting various solutions but she doesn't listen. I'm currently looking for a new role for various reasons as this is all part of her "style". I'm too old for this shite

I don't like voice note, one of my friend is doing it. Why just not ring me instead of leaving voice note.

I can't stand them - totally agree with the pps who say they are efficient for the sender but not the receiver. Anything information wise I much prefer to be written so I can refer back to it quickly - chatty ones I then have to remember to go back to when I have my headphones/ am not on the train/ not walking around.

I didn't actually realise what they were for ages and had assumed that people had done the equivalent of pocket calling on WhatsApp so never bothered listening. I still often don't bother in group chats.

Don't mind them if they are quick. But loooong ones feel like a chore to listen to.

Hate them. One friend suddenly started sending them. she doesn't message me at all now.

In my case, because I hate phone calls. Voice notes are a happy medium sometimes whereby I get to hear the other person's voice and can ramble on and fit a lot more in than a text and can get the tone right etc, but without the added bit of the other person being right there on the phone with you replying straight away, and then waiting for you to reply. I'm just better at communicating when I have a chance to listen to what they've said and then form a reply.

I do listen to voice notes without headphones in public though but I just have them on the lowest volume and then hold the speaker to my ear. Or I just don't listen to it until it's convenient. You don't have to reply straight away to a voice note, just like a text. Sometimes I listen to a voice note but then don't reply for a whole day.

I agree that if it's urgent a text or call is better but they do work for general chitchat and feel more personal than texts. We have a group chat of about 5 of us and we send various voice notes in at times but also mixed in with texts.

I am similar with my best friend, we just prefer to send voice notes most days to catch up, general ramblings.
But I wouldn't do it with most people as it just wouldn't be the same. Also, I'm sure other people would find it annoying, but we both like chatting throughout the day so its fine.

I think you have to pick your audience carefully, some people hate them and that's fine.

Hate them!! Only have one friend who uses them and I always ignore them! self-indulgent monotone!

Can't bear them. Imagine thinking someone wants to listen to you monologue.....

Hearing your mum laugh sounds fun if it's your thing, but frankly if I'm messaging, I can't listen to voices or take calls.

Hate them.
Dsis has started doing it, I’m sure it infuriates her when I type back my reply.

Hate. Because I can rarely listen to them at the time.

Loathe them.takes me 2mins to listen to a 2 min message. I can speed read the message in much less time.

Fortunately its DHs family that uses them.

Absolutely hate them. I can only listen on loud speaker because when I hold the phone to my ear, it knocks them off or dials the person that sent it. Ive about 2 hours of voice notes to listen to 🙄 one particular sil always sends them , she whispers too 🙄 just pure waffle and then freaks when I don't reply immediately! They are fine for some but not me, just not practical at all especially when I'm out and about or home with everyone here.

Hâte them, I can read faster than you can speak.