Funky new emoji update is coming to WhatsApp that will add a sprinkle of fun to chats with friends, leak suggests
- Leak shows an animated version of ‘Face with Party Horn and Party Hat’ emoji
- It may mean animated emojis will be sent by default instead of a static version
- READ MORE: Could WhatsApp be BANNED in Britain due to its privacy stance?
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will give users another way to express themselves, according to a leak.
Animated emojis are reportedly soon coming to iOS, Android and desktop versions of the platform, although it’s uncertain exactly when.
The upcoming feature has been discovered by independent WhatsApp experts WABetaInfo, which posted a GIF of the new emoji in action.
It shows the ‘Face with Party Horn and Party Hat’ emoji spinning around while blowing a party horn.
It follows the introduction of a new WhatsApp feature that lets you video call up to eight people from your desktop.
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‘WhatsApp is working on bringing animated emojis to a future update of the app,’ says WABetaInfo in the update.
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WhatsApp for Windows can now host video calls with up to eight people
‘The ability to send animated emojis is under development and it will be released in a future update of WhatsApp Desktop beta.
‘This cosmetic improvement to the app will definitely enhance the user experience while sending messages to make messaging more fun and communicate feelings more effectively.’
According to the report, animated emojis will be sent by default when the animated version of a certain emoji is available.
But this may mean WhatsApp users won’t be able to turn off the animation if they want to use the standard, static emoji.
MailOnline has contacted Meta – Mark Zuckerberg’s company that owns WhatsApp as well as Facebook and Instagram – for comment.
WABetaInfo predicts that animated emoji will cause distractions for some users who want a ‘simple messaging experience without unnecessary animations’.
It has called on Meta developers to include the ability to toggle on and off animated emoji in the WhatsApp Settings so that the platform’s 2 billion users can still use normal emoji if they want to.
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will give users another way to express themselves, according to a leak
One of WhatsApp’s primary rivals, Telegram, already has animated emoji, leading to accusations from some users on Twitter that WhatsApp is ‘stealing’ the idea.
READ MORE: Could WhatsApp be BANNED in Britain?
WhatsApp reiterated its commitment to end-to-end encryption when it celebrated reaching the 2 billion user milestone
Animated emojis are also already on Messages by Google and iMessage, the messaging service developed by Apple.
WhatsApp – which regularly introduces new features and tools to the app to tweak the user experience – launched three big changes in February.
The first lets WhatsApp users send up to 100 photos or videos at once in any given chat, compared with only 30 before.
It means WhatsApp users no longer have to spend ages when sending big batches of media to friends and family through the app.
Android users can also now include longer names and descriptions for group chats and even include captions when sending documents.
It follows news that WhatsApp could potentially be banned in the UK due to its use of a security standard known as end-to-end encryption.
End-to-end encryption ensures only the two participants of a chat can read messages, and no one in between – not even the company that owns the service.
But some argue it has made it more difficult for security agencies and other organisations – such as child protection charities – to detect criminal activity.
The UK government is currently considering new legislation that could force WhatsApp and other chat platforms to break end-to-end encryption, as part of the Online Safety Bill.
Messaging services that use it, including WhatsApp, Signal, Viber and Element, have signed an open letter opposing the Online Safety Bill ahead of its final reading in the House of Lords, which is still upcoming.
‘The UK Government must urgently rethink the Bill, revising it to encourage companies to offer more privacy and security to its residents, not less,’ Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at Meta, said in the letter along with six other signatories.
BEST WHATSAPP ALTERNATIVES
If you’re considering deleting WhatsApp, you’ll be happy to hear that there are several alternative apps to choose from:
1. Telegram
With more than 400 million users, Telegram is one of the most popular WhatsApp alternatives.
While it looks very similar to WhatsApp, what sets it apart is the fact that it gives the option to set messages to self-destruct after a given period of time, leaving no trace.
Telegram also offers end-to-end encryption.
However, as a WhatsApp spokesperson pointed out, Telegram ‘does not offer end-to-end encryption by default so it’s not necessarily more secure than WhatsApp’.
2. Signal
Signal is one of the most secure messaging apps, thanks to the fact that it is open-source.
This means that the code for the app is publicly available to view, making it near-impossible for the app’s creators to sneak in any backdoors that could allow governments or hackers to spy on your messages.
3. iMessage
If you use an iPhone, you may consider simply switching to iMessage, Apple’s own messaging app.
The app has a number of impressive features included no character limits, the ability to send pictures and videos, and of course Apple’s animated emoji feature, Animoji.
Unfortunately, iMessage is only available for iPhone users, so you’ll struggle to interact with anyone using an Android.
4. Google Messages
Google’s answer to iMessage is Google Messages, an Android-only messaging service.
The app replaces your standard SMS app, and integrates with all of Google’s apps and services, making it easy to share images or use Google Assistant.
5. Facebook Messenger
If you were put off using WhatsApp due to its sharing of data with Facebook, Facebook Messenger may not be the best option for you.
However, the app offers a number of helpful features, including games, secret conversations and video calls.
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