Dating App Happn to Roll Out New Voice Features
Contributed by: kellyseal on Monday, October 18 2021 @ 10:11 am
Last modified on Monday, October 18 2021 @ 10:24 am
Happn, one of the most popular dating apps, is launching new voice features to help its users better connect.
According to India TV News[*1] , the new features will be rolled out globally over the next few weeks. One of the new features allows users to add an audio note up to two minutes long in their profile, so that other users can get an idea of their personality from their voice. Happn is also rolling out an audio chat feature that allows people who match to talk with each other directly over the app.
The third audio feature is audio feed, where Happn will offer a feed of profiles in which users will be able to hear the voices of potential matches before seeing the rest of their profiles (like their photos, bios, etc.) – emphasizing the importance of the connection someone feels to a person’s voice, instead of just viewing their photos or interests. It’s an intriguing new way for users to assess their matches.
The move to add these types of features isn’t surprising, as many dating apps have been turning to more interactive features in the wake of lockdowns from the Covid-19 pandemic, when people were using these platforms to meet others and connect virtually. What’s interesting about Happn is the focus on audio, rather than video features.
Part of the reason Happn is gravitating to audio features is due to the feedback the company has gotten from its subscribers. Many of its users in India have said that the voice of a potential match is an essential characteristic of attraction when it comes to online dating. In fact, when the company conducted a survey of its users, 75 percent of respondents said the voice is an important part of finding someone attractive or not, though their opinions differed. For example, the tone of someone’s voice was divided: 45 percent found a confident tone attractive whereas 42 percent preferred a gentler voice.
Respondents to the survey overwhelmingly felt hearing someone’s voice would help them decide whether or not to pursue a potential match – with 89 percent saying hearing someone’s voice would strike an emotional chord, leading to faster real-life connections. The company found 33 percent of users thought it would help them develop a stronger connection, and 27 percent said hearing someone’s voice helped them to better picture the person.
The new audio features will launch in France and Argentina before rolling out worldwide. For more on this dating app you can read our Happn review.