Why can’t I send audio messages?

Audio messages allow users to send voice recordings to others through messaging apps instead of typing out text messages. They provide a more natural way of communicating that conveys tone and emotion better than plain text. Users may want to send audio messages when:

  • They want to provide more context and nuance through the tone of their voice.
  • Typing is inconvenient, such as while driving, cooking, or carrying items.
  • They want their message to feel more personal and expressive.
  • The message is complex, emotional, or lengthy, so it’s easier to explain over voice.
  • Internet connectivity makes typing laggy but audio can still get through.

Audio messaging allows more natural communication in situations where text messaging may feel awkward, cold or inefficient. The convenience and expressiveness lead many users to try sending audio messages through their messaging apps.

Technical Limitations

Instant messaging applications often have limits on the size of attachments and messages that can be sent, typically ranging from 25-100MB. According to Wikipedia, “Many applications allow file transfers, although they are usually limited in the permissible file-size.” [1] This is due to bandwidth and storage constraints on the provider side.

Bandwidth Constraints

Sending and receiving audio files requires a much higher network bandwidth capacity when compared to text messages.

According to this source, the bandwidth required for an active speaker’s audio stream is about 48 Kbps while that of background speakers at 10 Kbps each.

For networks serving many users, delivering high-quality audio would use up a lot of bandwidth, placing load on the overall infrastructure.

Storage Constraints

Audio messages require significantly more storage space than regular text messages. According to TeleMessage, a 1 hour audio message consumes about 14.4 MB, over 10 times the amount of storage a text message requires. As users send more lengthy audio messages, the storage adds up quickly and can impede other functions on a device.

Apple notes that audio messages on iPhones include transcripts of the message. Storing both the audio and the transcript further increases the storage requirements. One user reported audio messages taking up over 700 MB of their iPhone storage, reducing available space for other media and apps.

Slow Playback

One of the main reasons audio messages cannot be sent is due to slow playback speeds. Unlike text messages which can be displayed instantly, audio clips need to be downloaded first before they can be listened to (Apple Community). This requirement introduces delays as the audio file needs to transfer from the sender to the recipient’s device.

Additionally, audio files are typically much larger in size compared to text. So on slower connections, the download time will be even longer leading playback delays. The sender may finish recording and sending the voice message rapidly. However, the recipient will experience a lag before the audio starts playing as their device processes and buffers the file.

No Pausing or Seeking in Audio Messages

One of the downsides of audio messages is you cannot pause the messages or skip around like you can with a video message. Once you start listening to a voice memo, it plays from start to finish without giving you the ability to stop, restart, or scrub through the message.

Unlike video where you can skip forward or rewind, audio memos only support linear play. This can be irritating if the message ends up being very lengthy, or if you need to hear a snippet from the middle.

Being forced to listen to the whole thing does not provide a user-friendly experience. There are discussions on the Apple forum about the lack of pausing or seeking in iPhone audio messages, which can be a hindrance if messages go on too long.

Accessibility Issues

Audio messages can present challenges for people with hearing disabilities who rely on accessibility features to use mobile apps. According to the W3C, audio accessibility comprises “captions or sign language, transcripts, audio descriptions, accessible media players”. However, audio messaging does not currently support these features.

For example, users who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot access the audio content in an audio message. Platforms would need to provide either a real-time transcription of the audio to text, or a sign language translation via video. Most audio messaging apps today do not have either capability built-in.

As a result, hearing impaired users can be completely excluded from the conversation when audio messages are used as the sole means of communication. More accessible options – like text, video with captions, or other forms of visual communication – ensure apps do not discriminate against people with disabilities.

Privacy Concerns

One disadvantage of audio messaging is the potential privacy risks. Audio messages could be overheard if played out loud without headphones, compromising the private content. As noted by Google Meet’s support article, audio and video messages sent through their platform are encrypted for privacy. However, the person receiving the message must still be careful to avoid others overhearing. Platforms like WhatsApp also offer disappearing messages that self-destruct after a set time, reducing privacy risks.

Overall, while audio messages can seem quick and convenient to send, users should consider potential privacy tradeoffs depending on the context and content sensitivity. Using headphones, encrypted messaging platforms, and disappearing messages can help mitigate risks.

Spam Risks

Audio messaging across platforms like iMessage or WhatsApp has the potential to increase unsolicited spam and scams. As reported, scammers are already using fake “You Have Received a Voice Message” emails to trick users into downloading malware. Enabling audio messages creates an additional vector for spreading unwanted content. For example, some Android devices were targeted by spam SMS containing malicious audio files that tried to exploit device vulnerabilities.

In a public Reddit discussion, multiple users received random audio messages from unknown numbers. Without proper safeguards, audio messaging could become an increasingly common spam tactic across SMS, email, and other channels. Companies would need to devote more resources to detecting and filtering unwanted audio content to prevent abuse. Given the risks and potential for malicious abuse, platforms may determine spam prevention is easier without opening the door to audio messaging.

Alternatives

While audio messages can be fun and convenient, they come with drawbacks like bandwidth constraints, accessibility issues, privacy concerns, and spam risks (NPR). Thankfully, there are alternative communication methods that avoid these downsides while conveying similar information.

Text-based messaging remains highly effective for quick conversations. With the rise of predictive text and other innovations, typing can be fast and seamless. Text also avoids audio quality issues, allows reviewing past messages, enables accessibility features, and poses fewer privacy risks.

For more visual communication, images and video can vividly convey ideas without audio drawbacks. Modern smartphones and apps make capturing and sharing photos and videos easy. Images work across language barriers, video adds motion and emotion, and both media enable seeking/reviewing.

While audio messaging brings certain conveniences, utilizing text, images, and video can communicate just as effectively without the downsides.

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