Emoji just got a sonic boost in Facebook Messenger. The social network’s chat app added Soundmojis on Thursday, giving users the option of sending audio snippets with some key emoji.
At launch, you can send catchphrases from TV shows, bits of hit songs, and garden-variety stock sounds. If your conversation demands the world’s tiniest violin emoji, your chat partner can actually hear it!
Audio emoji
As with Apple’s Memoji and Animoji, Facebook Messenger’s new Soundmojis look to capitalize on the incredible popularity of emoji — and expand upon that by adding sound.
You can’t send your own voice with Soundmojis, though. As with a soundboard, you simply pick and choose from sounds associated with the image you want to send — in this case one of a couple dozen standard emoji. While the lean Soundmojis launch lineup might not seem too impressive, the social network says it plans to keep expanding things.
“We’re launching an entire Soundmoji library for you to choose from, which we’ll update regularly with new sound effects and famous sound bites,” the company said in a blog post. “Each sound is represented by an emoji, keeping the visual emojis we all love in play, while bringing sound into the mix. Best of both worlds!”
Ready to experience this next-level audio emoji fu? Here’s how to do it.
How to use Facebook Messenger Soundmojis
Once your Facebook Messenger app is updated to include Soundmojis, it’s actually pretty straightforward to use the new feature.
Just open Facebook Messenger and start a chat. When you feel the need to make some noise, simply tap the smiley icon. Then tap the speaker icon, which will show you the available Soundmojis.
Tap one of the emoji icons, and you will hear a preview of the associated sound that will play when your message is received. Actually, it won’t necessarily be heard. Soundmojis appear in the chat with purplish curved lines around the emoji symbols. The recipient must tap the Soundmoji to hear the audio.
Right now, the Soundmojis library consists of snippets from pop songs, bits of dialogue from hit shows like Bridgerton, and stock noises (like crickets chirping). Only Facebook knows how the library will grow over time.
Get loud on World Emoji Day
As Facebook points out, Soundmojis arrive just in time for World Emoji Day, which happens this Saturday. Get ready to make some noise on July 17.
