Flipgrid adds ‘mic only’ mode

No need to show off your pearly whites.

Microsoft’s Flipgrid has shaken up educational institutions by offering a powerful, safe video platform for teachers and students alike to use, all at no cost. While allowing educators to create channels for their classes, dictate maximum video length, and even determine how (or if) peers respond.

The host of features has been widely praised by educators but concerns have always been present for those who are camera shy or otherwise unwilling (or unable) to show off their surroundings. Workarounds like talking over a whiteboard, placing an emoji over one’s head, and others have been used, but the Flipgrid team has evidently seen a demand for an audio only option.

The new Mic Only mode offers users the full suite of tools available on the service, including drawings, emojis, and captions while seamlessly removing the camera from the equation.

While the feature isn’t strictly necessary, it does remove one potential barrier from camera shy students, and imposing such a limitation might prove inspiring for use in creating podcasts, introducing a mystery speaker, or for recording speeches, all in the Flipgrid ecosystem.