WhatsApp is rolling out new features and design improvements to make the messaging experience faster and more creative. Now, instead of tapping and waiting to react to messages, users will be able to quickly react with their favorite emoji by double-tapping. Besides this, the most frequently used emojis will be displayed in a scrollable drop-down menu, unlike previous global selections.
This update introduces a quality improvement that makes the process of reacting to messages more user-friendly. A similar feature is also available on the popular communication platform Discord; Favorite emojis are highlighted for quick access, eliminating the need to scroll through long emoji lists. WhatsApp users can easily access other emoji options by clicking the plus icon in the reaction bar.
Messenger, another messaging application from Meta, still offers only five fixed emoji options. This new approach by WhatsApp reinforces the idea that the same features should be added to Messenger.
WhatsApp also integrates the filters and virtual backgrounds it introduced for video calls last year into its messaging feature. Users will now be able to edit photos or videos taken during chat using 30 different visual effects. This feature makes photo and video submissions more fun and customizable.
WhatsApp also offers other innovations
In addition, sticker packs can now be shared directly into chats. As a more remarkable innovation, users will be able to turn their selfies into stickers. This feature, which can be used by tapping the sticker icon, is currently only active on Android devices. WhatsApp announced that iOS support will be available “soon”.
These new features offered by WhatsApp both make it easier to react to messages quickly and allow users to make their content more original. Double-tap response and customizable emoji options save time in both individual and group chats, while encouraging creativity with visual editing and sticker creation features.