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Do you use long voice notes to keep in touch?

195 replies

SilverandSage · 18/08/2026 12:34

Random question! šŸ˜‚ Do any of you regularly use voice notes to keep in touch with friends or family? I mean proper long ones, not just ā€œI’m running lateā€ type messages šŸ˜‚. I’m interested in whether other people have the same thing I do where you and a friend can end up sending each other 10–20 minute voice notes because you don’t have time to actually speak on the phone.
If you do, I’d love to know what you like/dislike about it.

OP posts:
youalright · 18/08/2026 12:35

No as that sounds irritating as hell.

QueenStevie · 18/08/2026 12:36

Absolutely not! I detest voice notes.

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 18/08/2026 12:36

Can’t stand them!! They are rambling gobbolty goop…

It basically says to the other person I can’t be bothered spending my time typing a message so YOU spend your time listening to me waffle.

Mooseylooseyloo · 18/08/2026 12:37

Yes me and my best friend voice note all day long. I absolutely hate talking on the phone its inconvenient and I have too much to say for a text so we VN. No longer than 10 mins each message though

RampantIvy · 18/08/2026 12:37

No. Never will.

cuckoolodger · 18/08/2026 12:38

Absolutely NOT. I can’t imagine anything worse and I actively ignore any that are sent to me unless I know that person is driving

TeeBee · 18/08/2026 12:39

No, I find it really rude when people send long ones, especially those that say 'its quicker to send you a voice note'. No it fucking isn't!! Not for me!! I have to listen to you droning on about all sorts of bollocks because you can't be arsed to text. And then, if I can't remember what you said, I have to play the fucking thing again. Just text FFS.

WhoKnowsWhatTheyThink · 18/08/2026 12:39

Not 10-20 minutes, but in my group of friends we all send voice notes that are a few minutes long.

PigglyWigglyOhYeah · 18/08/2026 12:39

I hate them. It's so rude and self-obsessed to think someone has 20 minutes spare to sit and listen to your monologue. It's not remotely the same as an actual phone conversation. You may as well just start up a podcast.

Theweedshavewon · 18/08/2026 12:39

I am a mild mannered person but I really adore the friend who does this but loathe and despise the fact that she does it with a white hot passion and have had to grey rock her out of it over years (ie by just never listening to them but being highly responsive in other ways).

IronEverything · 18/08/2026 12:40

A 20 minute voice note? You're having a laugh, that might as well be a podcast. Not a chance I'd listen to that.

I'm a voice note lover but anything I get a minute and I'm ignoring it.

Thrump · 18/08/2026 12:40

I delete voice notes unread. Don't send me your nonconsensual podcast.

AmberExpert · 18/08/2026 12:40

Absolutely hate them!

sweetpickle2 · 18/08/2026 12:40

I love voice notes, but this subject comes up a lot on MN and a lot of people hate them.

I don't send them to friends who I know don't like them, but for ones that do I love sending and receiving them! I moved away from most of my friends and family a couple of years ago, and its so lovely to hear people's voices- I find it more convenient than a phonecall as I can do it around whatever else I'm doing/listen when it's convenient.

And yes, sometimes I can't be bothered typing a message- I can send a voicenote when I'm cooking my dinner etc- I think thats fine? If the recipient doesn't want to listen to it you can just hit transcribe and read it like a message.

VestibuleWeaver · 18/08/2026 12:42

Nope, never. I dislike everything about them.

RaraRachael · 18/08/2026 12:44

I've never sent a voice notes and don't even know how to.
I have a friend who sends them when she's walking the dog. I usually can barely hear it because of the wind.

15 to 20 minutes sounds awful. I'd zone out.

SilverandSage · 18/08/2026 12:45

Interesting so far thanks šŸ˜‚ divided opinions. It
might just be my time of life but as I’m in my 40s I have a lot of friends and family I don’t see often as we live apart and have really busy lives with kids, jobs, gym etc to fit in. A phone call is tricky as we are often not free at the same time and so a voice note means we can both reply at a time that suits us like walking the dog or watering the garden. I just wondered how common it is or not as a means of keeping in touch. I do just send a WhatsApp for general chat.

OP posts:
MelonSorbet · 18/08/2026 12:45

If I want to hear someone's voice I give them a call. Revolutionary I know.

AgnesX · 18/08/2026 12:48

Surely if you've 20-30 minutes you'd call and actually speak to them?

I hate voicenotes/voicemail with a passion and never listen to them when the caller waffles on.

shhblackbag · 18/08/2026 12:48

Not in a million years. I'd hate it and wouldn't open them.

If we want to talk that long, that's what a phone call is for. And we'd agree on a time for it.

SilverandSage · 18/08/2026 12:49

AgnesX · 18/08/2026 12:48

Surely if you've 20-30 minutes you'd call and actually speak to them?

I hate voicenotes/voicemail with a passion and never listen to them when the caller waffles on.

Edited

We are never free at the same time! I might record at 6am when I walk my dog or on my Friday off when other people are in bed or at work. They might reply in the evening when I’m at the gym or putting the kids to bed.

OP posts:
Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 18/08/2026 12:50

No I’d hate that. I even dislike short voice notes. It’s not a conversation it’s a monologue. I’d just delete them.

shhblackbag · 18/08/2026 12:50

Thrump · 18/08/2026 12:40

I delete voice notes unread. Don't send me your nonconsensual podcast.

This describes my feelings.

Nincompoo · 18/08/2026 12:50

I have a few people I communicate with via voice notes but usually only when I’m driving. If people send me voice notes when i’m at home I read the transcription and reply in text 🤣

ElegantDress · 18/08/2026 12:51

No, I have a very busy life too as do my friends but we do everything by messaging, far more convenient. I don't tend to listen to VNs at all, luckily hardly anyone I know uses them