Instagram rolls out new voice messaging feature

Even as we reach the end of 2018, Instagram doesn’t stop rolling out new features. The latest version of the app has just added a new feature users have been waiting for. Now, you can communicate using voice messages without having to use external messaging services like WhatsApp or Telegram.

Sending audio messages via DM couldn’t be easier

If you want to try out this new feature, all you have to do is start a private conversation with any of your contacts. To do that, you just have to tap the ‘Direct’ icon found in the upper right corner of the interface. Once the chat is open, you’ll see a microphone icon down on the text bar.

You can record the audios just like you do with other apps. Just hold down the microphone icon while you talk. Once you let go, the sound will be sent to your contact for them to hear it. If you want to cancel the recording before it’s sent, you just have to swipe to the left, until you reach the trash can icon and it’ll be dismissed.

Instagram tends to pay close attention to even the most insignificant details of its design, and just like we see in Telegram, you’ll see the sound waves of your audio as you record it and after it’s sent. Thanks to this, you can clearly see any silences in the recordings and skip them easily.

Now you can also create friend lists

In addition to the new voice message feature, Instagram has also added the possibility to create friend lists. With this new feature you have the option to send Stories to certain groups of contacts. This makes it way easier to target the specific audience you want to reach with your content.

Once you’ve created one or various lists, you just have to create a ‘Story’ and share it with the group of friends you want privately. This way, you’ll see a green icon show up on the story to remind you that it’s not visible to all your followers.

Instagram keeps on evolving in search of the best features to continue down the path of becoming the most complete social network out there. It’ll be interesting to see what else its developers have up their sleeves and whether or not we’ll see anything else new in the last few weeks leading up to 2019.