Facebook and Instagram reels get AI voice translation and AI lip-sync feature, know how these new features work..

Meta has taken another step to make online conversations more inclusive. AI-powered voice translation is now available for Reels on Facebook and Instagram. The new feature is now available worldwide, allowing creators to share their content in multiple languages ​​without having to record separate versions.

The tool is called Meta AI Translations and is free to use. It currently supports translation from English to Spanish and Spanish to English, and more language options will be available soon. Enabling this feature allows creators to automatically dub and lip-sync their Reels in another language, allowing them to reach a wider audience.

How it works

To activate this tool, creators need to click on the “Translate your voice with Meta AI” option. Once enabled, they can toggle the translation and lip-syncing settings and then share their content. Creators also have the option to review the translation before publishing it. Notifications appear when translations are ready, or creators can finalize changes by visiting the Professional Dashboard.

Viewers will experience translated Reels in their preferred language, but they can also have the option to turn off translation for specific languages ​​​​through the settings menu. For Facebook Pages, Meta is also allowing creators to upload up to 20 dubbed audio tracks for a single Reel, expanding viewer reach even further.

This development reflects Meta's intention to simplify global communication for digital creators and strengthen relationships with diverse audiences across different regions.

Growing concerns about short-form content
While Meta is improving the user experience with new tools and updates, researchers are advising caution about the growing influence of short-form videos. Recent studies suggest that platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts stimulate our brain's reward pathways in the same way as addictive substances, such as alcohol.

A study published in NeuroImage, led by Professor Qiang Wang of Tianjin Normal University, showed that people who frequently watch short videos had more activity in the parts of the brain that are associated with addiction. The findings showed that watching too many videos can hurt attention, memory, and motivation, as well as increasing the risk of depression and sleep problems.

For example, users in China spend an average of 151 minutes a day on short videos and about 96 percent of internet users engage in this format. Researchers have described this pattern as a public health challenge due to long-term effects on mental health.