Is Twitter voice available on Android?

Twitter first announced the ability to record and send voice tweets in June 2020. This new feature allows users to record audio clips up to 140 seconds long and tweet the recordings to their followers. Voice tweets were initially only available to a limited group of iOS users, but have since rolled out more widely.

Voice tweeting provides an alternative way for users to share thoughts and engage with others on Twitter beyond just text. Some see it as a more personal and emotive way to connect. However, the feature has also garnered criticism around accessibility, harassment, and content moderation.

What is Twitter Voice?

Twitter Voice is a new feature that allows users to record and send audio clips up to 140 seconds long directly on Twitter. It enables sharing thoughts, reactions, stories, and more using your voice rather than text. Audio tweets appear on your profile timeline alongside regular text-based tweets.

Twitter first introduced the ability to attach audio clips to tweets in 2020. This built on existing multimedia options like photos, videos, and GIFs. However, Voice Tweets take sharing audio a step further by removing the need to record externally and upload a file. Everything can be done directly within the Twitter app using your phone’s microphone.

Voice tweeting aims to provide a more personal and intimate way of sharing thoughts and connecting with others on Twitter. The nuances of tone, emotion, accent, and pacing can come through in a way text alone cannot convey. Twitter hopes audio tweets will encourage more authentic and human conversations.

Initial iOS Rollout

Twitter first launched voice tweets on iOS in June 2020, allowing users to record audio clips up to 140 seconds and attach them to tweets (1). This gave users a new way to share thoughts and engage in conversations on Twitter beyond just text. The feature rolled out to a limited number of iOS users at first before expanding more broadly (2).

To post a voice tweet on iOS, users tap the wavelength icon when composing a new tweet. They can then record an audio clip by tapping the record button and releasing when finished. The audio will playback directly in the Twitter timeline, giving it a more conversational vibe compared to text tweets (1).

The launch on iOS marked the first time audio could be baked directly into tweets. While other social platforms like Facebook have offered audio sharing for years, voice tweets represent a unique spin on the concept for Twitter’s platform (2).

Sources:

(1) https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2020/your-tweet-your-voice

(2) https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/17/twitter-begins-rolling-out-audio-tweets-on-ios/

Android App Support

Voice tweets have not yet been implemented in the Twitter app for Android. When the feature first launched in June 2020, it was only made available on iOS [1]. Over two years later, Android users still cannot create voice tweets natively in the Twitter app.

Twitter has not provided an exact timeline for when voice tweets will roll out to Android, only stating that they are “working on bringing voice Tweets to everyone” [2]. The feature remains exclusive to iOS as of January 2023.

Without official support in the Android app, Android users have no straightforward way to post voice tweets. The only option is to record audio elsewhere and upload it as a video or audio file when composing a tweet.

Workarounds for Android Users

Since Twitter Voice is not yet available natively on Android, Android users have needed to find workarounds to be able to post voice tweets. One of the most popular workarounds has been to use the Twitter website to record and post voice tweets.¹

To post a voice tweet through the Twitter website:

Go to twitter.com in your mobile or desktop browser
Click the compose tweet button as usual

Click the voice icon next to the compose box
Record your voice tweet (up to 140 seconds)
Post the tweet as normal

This workaround allows Android users to post voice tweets easily without needing to have an iOS device. While not as seamless as having native Twitter Voice support within the Android app, using the mobile site provides a solid alternative until Android support arrives.

Plans for Android Rollout

Twitter has not made any official announcements about plans to roll out voice Tweets to Android users. The voice Tweets feature was first introduced on iOS in June 2020, and more than a year later it still remains exclusive to iOS.

Some sources have indicated that Twitter plans to launch voice Tweets for Android users by late 2021. According to an article on Android Central, “Twitter is aiming for Android support by the end of this year, around November or December.” [1]

However, Twitter has yet to confirm a timeline for bringing voice Tweets to Android. The company previously stated that “accessibility, bandwidth, & device storage” were challenges to enabling the feature on Android and that they are “working through what’s needed to bring this to everyone.” [2]

For now, Android users will have to continue waiting and relying on third-party workarounds if they want to create voice Tweets. Until Twitter formally announces plans and a release date, the arrival timeline for voice Tweets on Android remains uncertain.

Benefits of Voice Tweets

Voice Tweets provide some unique benefits compared to traditional text Tweets. Two of the biggest advantages are accessibility and the ability to convey emotion.

For accessibility, Voice Tweets allow users with visual impairments or literacy challenges to more easily engage with content on Twitter. By listening instead of reading, many users can more fully experience Tweets. This expands Twitter’s reach and makes it more inclusive. According to one source, “Voice Tweets allow people to add an extra layer of personality and emotion to their thoughts.” (Source)

That ability to convey emotion and tone is another major benefit of Voice Tweets. Text alone can sometimes be misinterpreted. But by hearing someone’s voice, it’s easier to sense the nuance and meaning behind their words. Voice adds empathy and connection back into online communication. As one reporter noted, Voice Tweets can “better reflect the mood of the poster.”

Overall, Voice Tweets enhance accessibility and provide a richer way to share thoughts and reactions on Twitter beyond just text. The human voice creates a more engaging experience for both the poster and the audience.

Drawbacks of Voice Tweets

While Voice Tweets add a new dimension to the Twitter experience, they also come with some drawbacks that users and Twitter need to consider. Two notable drawbacks are the potential for abuse and lack of transcripts.

Without transcripts, Voice Tweets are not accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing (Wall Street Journal). After backlash from disability advocates, Twitter said it would work on adding captions to make the feature more inclusive, but this has not happened yet. The lack of transcripts also makes the content harder to search and translate.

There is also concern over Voice Tweets being used to spread misinformation or abusive content more easily (WBALTV). Without transcripts, it is harder to moderate and track what is being said. Additional screening and protections may need to be added to prevent abuse.

User Reception So Far

Initial user reaction to Twitter’s voice tweets has been mixed. Many users welcomed the new feature as an interesting way to share thoughts in a more personal and expressive manner. However, other users raised concerns about accessibility, especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing users who rely on text captions (according to Deaf Person Reacts to Twitter’s New Audio Tweet Feature).

There was also criticism that voice tweets could enable the spread of misinformation by making it easier to share false claims without transcripts or accountability (Is Twitter Trolling Us? Why Voice Tweets Are Already Problematic). Overall, the reaction has been mixed, with some enthusiasm around increased expression but also valid concerns about potential downsides of prioritizing voice content over text.

The Future of Voice on Twitter

When Twitter first launched voice tweets in June 2020, the feature was limited to iOS users only. However, Twitter has indicated plans to expand voice capabilities over time across its suite of apps. According to a Twitter spokesperson, voice tweets represent “a new medium” for expression that allows people to connect “in an intimate way”.

While an official timeline has not been announced, Twitter is likely working to bring voice tweets to Android soon. Expanding the voice feature to Android would allow many more users to access and interact with voice content. As Twitter continues developing its audio strategy, additional capabilities like voice messages in DMs could also emerge.

Some industry analysts predict voice tweets will become ubiquitous across platforms in the future. As Ray Wang of Constellation Research stated, “Voice will become a primary interface across all apps and experiences over the next 36 months.” Though the timeline is uncertain, Twitter seems committed to making voice a core part of the platform.