This just in: Grindr has begun rolling out a new voice messaging feature. Because who has time for typing anymore?
“The sound of someone’s voice says a lot about them. That’s why we added audio messages, an easy and authentic way to connect and express yourself,” the hookup app says in a statement.
Related: Grindr leaves men feeling depressed and dead inside, research finds
But the feature, which is currently only available in Australia, already has people fearing the worst. Many feel the it will only add fuel to that whole “masc 4 masc” thing.
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Im not kidding tho. The new “are you masc?” is gonna be “send me a voice message.”
— Phillip (@MajorPhilebrity) May 9, 2018
John Paul Brammer over the the blog Them says the feature provides “yet another opportunity for gay men to be terrible to each other on dating apps,” writing:
Grindr, like many spaces created by and for cisgender gay men, is a social environment fraught with pressures to perform hyper-masculinity in order to be seen as more attractive. On an app where the phrase “no fems” is commonplace in profile bios, adding voice messages could just be another way to screen people who aren’t masc 4 masc or don’t conform to more masculine standards of desirability.
Some worry the feature could propagate further internalized homophobia as users will feel pressured to adopt more “straight acting” voices:
https://twitter.com/kamilumin/status/994350293273010181
How do you feel about the idea of a Grindr voice messaging feature? Take our poll below.
Check out some of the other responses people are having to the new feature:
the gays when they’re asked to prove their masculinity via Grindr voice notes pic.twitter.com/D1O7CHpsTO
— seven (@cacajuice) May 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/colouroffensive/status/994842353142784000
https://twitter.com/jtranen/status/994781665468796928
https://twitter.com/edgaroliverf/status/996809056059731968
https://twitter.com/BromoWV/status/997298432124637185
https://twitter.com/angeIfangs/status/996908305070088192
https://twitter.com/DietXanaxLite/status/994407983844134912
if a Grindr guy asks to hear my voice I'm just sending a recording of the sax intro to Run Away With Me
— DIISCREET (@DiscreetLatino) May 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/itmeurboy/status/996578953673494528
https://twitter.com/JamesDelamare/status/994326580485816326
Related: New study confirms what we already knew: Grindr makes everyone miserable
Vince
Haha. The prairie dog one with the funniest.
Kieru
Let me see if I understand the argument against this feature…
Grindr shouldn’t allow users to exchange voice messages, because by doing so some unspecified subset of users may decide not to have sex with someone because they find their potential sexual partners voice unappealing… and I guess that absent this feature those people would have what? Come to the persons house, heard their voice, said “Well I’m here anyway…” ?
OzJosh
You’re comment makes the rather rash assumption that guys hooking up even talk to each other. Quite a few never do.
Boy from Brazil
My first message will be “Miss Vanjieeee”
Umoja
If you are against voice messages – does that make you tacitly for catfishing (misrepresenting a quality of one’s self to arouse interest via social media and apps)?
Voice messaging via Whatsapp was often a really great way to cement some trust, recognition and a personal touch prior to a first meeting anyway.
NateOcean
Hello their mouth full; no talking; ‘nuf said.
DarkZephyr
Ha ha there are going to be a LOT of disappointed “mascs 4 mascs” out there. Some guys who identify as “masc” and truly seem to believe this about themselves actually sound like Carson Kressley when they speak.
duje_buric
Well if he asks for a voice message to prove my masculinity I conclude he is a douche and I stop the conversation… Is that rude?