This is because they will have to play the message out loud, which might not be convenient especially in a public setting, or save it for later, which might not be the best if it’s urgent. However, the good news is that WhatsApp is looking to give users more options, according to a report from WABetaInfo.
The report suggests that WhatsApp is working on a transcription feature for voice messages. This means that instead of audio-only playback, users will have the option of transcribing the message to text instead. We’re not sure how accurate this transcription feature will be, but it could come in handy.
Other apps like WeChat already offer similar transcription features, so this isn’t exactly a new thing. WhatsApp has since shared a statement with 9to5Mac about the feature and regarding potential privacy concerns.
According to the statement, “We’re in the very early stages of designing and prototyping voice message transcription. We’re a long way from being able to offer this feature but if we do roll it out, it will be protected by end-to-end encryption.”