Voiceover screen reader - not consistently able to open links

[ruettet]

(on behalf of https://disabled.social/@JustGrist/113986968822757833, with my fullest support)

“Hello,

Firstly, I want to thank the Signal devs for making sure that the IOS app is really very accessible for blind IOS users who use the Voiceover screen reader. That said, I noticed that while using Voiceover, I am not consistently able to open links sent to me in messages. Double tapping on the message doesn’t work. …

There is also no option for opening links in the options Voiceover users get when swiping up and down on a message or any option to open links in the context menu that pops up when I double tap and hold on a message. Adding an option for opening links either to the options that Voiceover users get when swiping up and down on a message or to the pop-up context menu would be the best way to ensure that blind IOS users have full access to the Signal app’s functionality.

Thank you.”

[PeterSaathoff-Harshfield]

I also experience this issue. If the URL is the only text in the message, VoiceOver can activate it. If there's any plain text in addition to a URL, the link can't be activated.

[noatamir]

Please address this issue

[atSquiDevONtwitter]

Hello,

I've just tested your issue in the latest build of Signal for iOS.

I've noticed that using VoiceOver, opening links sent to me in messages is inconsistent. Double tapping on the message doesn’t always work, and there’s no option to open links when swiping up and down on a message. There's also no link-opening option in the context menu that appears when I double tap and hold on a message.

Other VoiceOver users have also reported issues like VoiceOver becoming muted or slow, the cursor jumping to the top of the page, problems with the app switcher, and general unresponsiveness. These issues can be frustrating, and many users have noticed them across different iOS versions. Apple is aware of these problems, and users are encouraged to report them through the Feedback Assistant tool.

[TO: Signal Devs]
I believe addressing these accessibility issues would significantly enhance the user experience for VoiceOver users. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to improve accessibility.