ONE in five Brits now send voice notes instead of text messages – with the average ramble lasting nearly two minutes.
A poll of 2,000 adults found they now send an average of 21 voice notes a week in place of typing things out.
A poll of 2000 adults reveals the average Brit sends around 21 voice notes a week Credit: Getty
Voice notes are firmly ingrained in bestie culture, especially among Gen Z Credit: Getty
Best friends are most likely to be on the receiving end of these audio monologues, with one in five (22 per cent) naming them as their main audience, while Gen Z (44 per cent) are the biggest contributors.
With 29 per cent overall saying feel more natural than when talking to close friends, by helping people open up more easily (26 per cent) and making chats feel that bit more personal (21 per cent).
For over a third, it’s about ease (32 per cent), speed (34 per cent), alongside the ability to (20 per cent) and avoid typing long messages (27 per cent).
The juicy details being unpacked range from quick updates with close friends and family (25 per cent), to love life briefings (12 per cent), dramas (11 per cent) and debriefs following a night out (10 per cent).
Audio updates can range from love life debriefs to workplace dramas Credit: SWNS
Nearly half of those who use voice notes confess the message often strays from the original point Credit: Getty
Gen Z are the biggest culprits overall with 54 per cent saying they prefer to send voice notes instead of text messages when there’s tea to spill.
To celebrate the chaotic joy of the voice note, Twix is launching Harmoniser , which lets users record voice notes in a harmonised tone, designed to make those dramatic debriefs even more entertaining.
Laura O’Neill, a spokesperson for the said: “Voice notes are firmly ingrained in bestie culture as the perfect way to stay connected to those closest to you.
“We know how much best friends rely on the daily voice-recorded updates, so we wanted to dial up the chat with a little personality.
“Twix Harmoniser is here to transform the everyday voice note into something twice as entertaining and bring a unique touch of fun to elevate the daily chat.”
The study also found the average voice note sent to a best mate lasts three and a half minutes longer than any other.
In fact, 34 per cent regularly hit record for things that absolutely don’t require audio, from narrating their to the shop to explaining what they’re having for dinner.
Nearly half (45 per cent) confessed they often go off on tangents that have little to do with the original point of the message.
It also emerged 36 per cent see voice notes as the ultimate low effort way of communicating when something needs a bit of explaining, and a quarter rely on them to make sure their tone comes across correctly.
They’re also celebrated for dodging misunderstandings and miscommunications (23 per cent) and making it easier for people to show how they’re really feeling (20 per cent).
Of those most likely to fill their best mate’s inbox with audio updates, 36 per cent added it’s because they understand their best.
Meanwhile, 28 per cent trust them to actually listen all the way through, and 23 per cent feel most comfortable sharing juicy with them.
Staggeringly, seven per cent of these are recording 10 or more voice notes every single day to their best buddy.
However, the research, which was conducted via OnePoll, also revealed voice notes can rub recipients up the wrong way.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) get irritated when a message takes too long to get to the point, while 23 per cent find it annoying when they must dig out to listen in public.
Another 14 per cent revealed they get wound up when a friend clearly gets distracted halfway through recording.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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