SOCIAL
Twitter is Testing New Vocal Effects Options for Spaces, Which Could Help to Reduce Speaker Anxiety
If you’re like everyone, you don’t particularly enjoy hearing your own voice in recordings and playback.
You always sound more nasal, higher-pitched – the voice you hear inside your head, which resonates around your bones and muscles, will always sound different to the one that you project. You just don’t know about it till you hear it played back, and that, for many, can be jarring, and can even make some hesitant to take part in interviews, or in more recent times, audio chats.
Which is where this might come in handy – Twitter is currently experimenting with a new set of voice-changing options for Twitter Spaces, which would enable you to filter your voice through a range of effects.
As you can see in this option, posted by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the new ‘Voice Transformer’ tool would provide a range of different vocal effect filters for you to change how you sound in the app.
Twitter’s Danny Singh later confirmed the test, and posted this example of the effects in action.
Some people won’t see any need for these tools, of course, but others may like having the ability to change how they sound, for various reasons, while it could also be handy for audio plays and dramatic readings, with the capacity for a single person to perform multiple characters, or to invite other readers into roles through the use of a specific filter.
That could open up new engagement options in Spaces, which is gaining traction among Twitter users, and is set to become a bigger focus for the app, with a dedicated tab on the way, and higher priority for Spaces via the top of timeline display.
Last week, Twitter announced that it would be retiring its Stories-like Fleets option next month, but the top of feed bubbles will remain, and will revert to highlighting Spaces exclusively. That, along with the tab, underlines the potential that Twitter sees in audio tools, and functional additions like this could help to expand inclusivity and boost user interest in the option.
It could also be used to disguise people in rooms, which may have unintended impacts, and it could additionally be used in a negative, bullying way. But it’s an interesting experiment, with significant potential value, and Twitter will likely launch a live test to get a measure on user response in the near future.
Audio tools are having something of a renaissance, with the rise of Clubhouse sparking a new wave of audio options in all the major apps, and TikTok making music and sound a key focus, shifting away from the traditional ‘audio off’ approach for most social apps. Facebook has also launched Soundmojis for Messenger, and is working on a new Soundbites option for sharing audio clips.
Given this, Twitter’s sound filters also align with that shift, and again, it could be a hugely valuable option that helps more users feel comfortable joining Spaces chats.
So, soon you won’t have to worry about sounding flat in Spaces – you can just add a megaphone voice filter and become Oz behind your own curtain. Or a bee. Or whatever you may choose.
It seems like an interesting addition – we’ll keep you updated on any progress.
SOCIAL
Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?
In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.
The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.
According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.
Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.
Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.
The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.
This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.
Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.
As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?
Only time will tell.
SOCIAL
Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach
While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.
When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.
“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.
Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.
“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.”Â
“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.
“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.
Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.
SOCIAL
Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement
Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.
As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.
That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.
Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.
That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.
Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.
Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.
We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.
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