Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Indian social media users prefer voice messaging, survey finds
A company called FRND asked more than 12,000 people in India how they like to talk to friends online.
Most people said they worry about their privacy and about being judged by people they know.
Because of this, many people feel safer using their voice instead of typing messages.
The survey found that almost 8 out of 10 people express themselves much better in their own mother tongue.
That was even more true for people who speak Telugu and Malayalam.
Most people said they feel most emotionally connected when they hear someone else's voice.
Hindi speakers loved voice messaging the most, with 70 out of 100 preferring it.
Apps like Reddit and Discord work well for city dwellers who speak English, but mother-tongue speakers need something different.
The company behind the survey says people feel more comfortable being themselves when they don't have to show a photo.
They believe people want an online space that is warm and kind, not just useful.
The FRND Safe Space Survey of 12,666 users found 48% cite lack of privacy as the key barrier to free expression online, while 45% fear judgement from people they know.
78% of respondents said they express themselves much better in their mother tongue, a figure rising to 84% among Telugu and Malayalam speakers.
66% said hearing someone's voice through voice notes made them feel most emotionally connected, compared with 29% for audio calls and 28% for text.
Hindi users showed the strongest affinity for voice messaging at 70%, while Malayalam users showed the lowest preference at 58%.
FRND co-founder and CEO Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar said people are more comfortable being themselves online when they can speak instead of type and converse in their own Indic language.
- Who
- Indian social media users surveyed on the FRND platform, and FRND co-founder and CEO Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar.
- What
- A survey found that users prefer voice messaging and mother-tongue expression online, with privacy concerns and fear of judgement limiting free expression.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- India, with findings highlighting users from smaller towns and villages as well as tier 1 and 2 cities.
- Why
- Concerns about privacy, online judgement, and negativity are steering users toward spaces that offer greater control, emotional comfort, and authenticity.
- Survey
- FRND Safe Space Survey
- Respondents
- 12,666 FRND users
- Method
- In-app pop-ups with multiple-choice format
- Privacy barrier
- 48% cited lack of privacy
- Judgement fear
- 45% fear judgement from people they know
- Mother tongue expression
- 78% overall; 84% among Telugu and Malayalam speakers
- Voice connection
- 66% felt most emotionally connected hearing voice notes
- Voice messaging preference
- 70% Hindi (highest); 58% Malayalam (lowest)