Instagram’s new voice message effects let you sound like a pirate, a grandma, or a World Cup fan

Instagram is expanding its AI-powered voice effects for DMs to more users, adding new filters to the feature as part of Meta’s FIFA World Cup 2026 push. The update is live on Android and iOS, though Instagram says availability is limited to select countries. The feature first started rolling out in India in March with eight effects: Chipmunk, Demon, Alien, Robot, Underwater, Stadium, Wobble, and Fishbowl. The wider rollout now brings the total to 15, adding Goal!, Pirate, Autotune, Whisper, Grandpa, Grandma, and Princess to the mix. The Goal! effect is a new addition timed to the FIFA World Cup, and Meta says it triggers a surprise animation when sent. How it works To use the feature, tap the voice message button in a DM thread, then tap the new effect button that appears between the delete and send buttons in the bottom bar. First-time users will see a pop-up that reads: “Now you can transform how you sound in voice messages. Choose the perfect voice to make your conversations more memorable.” Pranob Mehrotra / Digital Trends Pranob Mehrotra / Digital Trends Pranob Mehrotra / Digital Trends Pranob Mehrotra / Digital Trends The pop-up includes a Meta AI terms disclaimer noting that interactions will be used to improve AI at Meta. When a voice message with an effect is sent, recipients can see which effect was applied and tap on it to use the same one in their reply. World Cup features across Meta’s apps The voice effects expansion is part of a broader set of FIFA World Cup features Meta announced across its apps. On Facebook, the company is adding a Football Mode, tournament-themed stickers, and a Live Updates feature for Messenger group chats that surfaces real-time match highlights. Meta Instagram is also getting an enhanced search experience that surfaces curated tournament content, including Reels, Stories, and posts from official broadcasters and national teams.

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