Audio in the Time of Instagram

I’m worried about audio.

Social media has placed a premium on beautiful images, leaving audio in the muted, autoplay cold.

Thats why I’m so happy The Washington Post is using audio in interesting ways on Instagram. They visited former New Orleans residents to see how they have cooped and changed since Katrina 10 years later.

They utilize the video option to bring human voice front and center. Instead of having a video play, however, they opt instead for one gorgeous black-and-white portrait. The real punch, so rare to find in our social networks, is in the audio.

The journalism and platform don’t always play perfectly, however. It’s difficult to appreciate Jock Pierna’s portrait with a large play button hovering most of his face. (Of course it disappears when a user taps the screen.)

I hope we continue to look for ways to listen to the human voice on social media.