Aceleração da comunicação cotidiana: um estudo do WhatsApp 2x mais rápido

Abstract

The acceleration of voice messages on WhatsApp is not merely a technical adjustment within the platform. Its existence and assimilation reflect a reorganization of digital communication practices, in which time and attention management become central. From this perspective, this research investigates the dynamics surrounding the use of voice messages on WhatsApp, with an emphasis on the playback speed functionality and the temporal negotiations associated with sending and listening to these messages. The objective was to understand how this feature fits into a scenario in which platform-mediated orality no longer operates under the same principles as face-to-face conversation but is instead regulated by new expectations of availability, response, and efficiency. The study adopts a qualitative approach and uses as its empirical corpus posts from Twitter/X, Instagram and records of WhatsApp interactions, analyzing the justifications, reactions, and usage patterns of the voice message acceleration feature. From this analysis, it was observed that sending voice messages in digital environments is not an immediate and spontaneous act but is often mediated by requests for permission, prior notices, and justifications, indicating that digital orality demands a specific negotiation of time and attention. In this context, the acceleration of voice messages not only shortens listening time but also reconfigures the role of speech and listening in mediated communication. The theoretical framework engages with discussions on temporality and social acceleration, drawing from the contributions of Hartmut Rosa, François Hartog, and Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, as well as authors who problematize the impacts of hyperconnectivity and attention modulation, such as Byung-Chul Han and Lúcia Santaella. The research suggests that the acceleration of voice messages on WhatsApp is part of a broader trend of increasing time management in communication, where efficiency becomes a structuring criterion of digital interaction. However, reactions recorded on social media indicate that the adoption of this feature is not homogeneous, revealing tensions between the practicality of acceleration and the potential loss of attentive listening. The findings contribute to debates on the platformization of orality and the modulation of digitally mediated communication. While the study does not establish that the acceleration of voice messages directly alters users’ perception of time, it points to a shift in how the time of speech and listening is negotiated. Additionally, it suggests that oral communication in digital environments is adapting to a model in which listening must be earned, adjusted, and managed, rather than being guaranteed by the natural flow of interaction. As a further development, this research paves the way for future investigations into the subjective impacts of accelerated listening, Generation al differences in the adoption of this feature, and its relationship with other forms of accelerated information consumption in digital environments.