WhatsApp’s new update includes features that add hilarity and humour to the chatting experience. The social media app brings more backgrounds and filters to the video chat interface, as well as the ability to make your own stickers and send whole sticker packs to your friends.
The Meta-fication of WhatsApp
The main update is beefing up the video chat interface so users have more options to amuse themselves and their contacts. The range of backgrounds, filters, and effects has been expanded to 30. They can be added to videos and photos in chat and live video calls.
WhatsApp is also making the creation and sharing of stickers easier. Users can turn their selfies into stickers. To do so, they tap the “create sticker” option and take a selfie on the camera roll, and the app will generate a custom sticker with their reaction. Moreover, users can more easily share stickers with friends through chat. Whole sticker packs can also be shared. This feature is only available to Android users, with an iOS update coming later.
Reactions are becoming more responsive. Users only need to double-tap on a message for an instant reaction, chosen from a section for frequently used reactions. Many of these features are already available on Meta’s other social media apps Facebook and Instagram, but are finally making their way onto WhatsApp.
These features’ success on Meta’s other apps could add more levity to a platform preferred by many. WhatsApp still feels more sombre with its simple UI and lack of fun communication features. If the app hopes to continue growing its market share, letting users chat with family and friends in an entertaining manner, rather than having fake AI friends imposed on them, would be the way to go.