Are you getting more voice notes these days? You're not alone – WXXI News

Best friends Hope Sloop and Bobbi Miller first met on TikTok. Although they have known each other for less than a year, they rarely see each other in person because they live on opposite coasts. But one particular form of communication has kept them close: voice messages. Also called “voice texts,” “voice notes” and “audio messages” — not to be confused with voice-to-text through virtual assistants like Siri — voice messages are a feature built into messaging apps including iMessage and WhatsApp. “Between Bobbi and I, we probably send each other anywhere from 10 to 50 a day,” Sloop said. “It’s a lot.” Texting can muddle meaning, and calls can trigger anxiety. But for many, short voice recordings offer an easier, low-pressure alternative in a world that’s grown more accustomed to audio mediums such as Clubhouse and podcasts. The ability to communicate tone is a big part of the appeal. “We’re able to hear the sheer joy in each other’s voice,” Miller said of her friendship with Sloop. “Or if we’re going through something, just like having a hard time, sometimes in text the gravity of the situation doesn’t always get relayed.” “It really just helps to mitigate any of
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