The WhatsApp messaging team is exploring a feature that adds animated emoji to chats. The update was observed in the desktop beta, with insights from the analytics group WABetaInfo. Experts note that animated emojis could enhance the chatting experience by making messages feel livelier and emotions more vivid.
When a user selects an animated emoji, the animation is designed to start automatically. The animations are built with Lottie, a specialized web development library. WABetaInfo also suggests giving administrators the option to disable this feature in settings for teams and groups who prefer a quieter conversation flow or who feel that animation can distract from the content.
The rollout is expected to reach a broad user base in the near future. The work aligns with a wider initiative to bring richer visual cues to messaging while preserving control for users who favor a more straightforward interface.
In another related beta note, the team behind WhatsApp Messenger version 2.23.8.24 introduced a change allowing users to attach new captions to files sent, if they choose to remove the original message later. This tweak offers additional context and clarity for recipients while keeping conversations tidy.
Overall, the upcoming update reflects WhatsApp’s ongoing effort to blend expressive visuals with flexible controls, aiming to improve communication while accommodating varied user preferences across North America and beyond.