WhatsApp will be working on the animated emoji feature, the first beta may be coming to the desktop version soon.
WhatsApp users may soon be able to access a feature that will greatly enhance their group chats. Meta is indeed working on animated emoji, an option that may come in an upcoming beta version of the WhatsApp desktop app.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on an animated emoji feature
The GIF posted by WABetaInfo shows the feature in action. It features the famous party emoji, complete with party horn and hat bouncing and spinning all over the place. According to what currently exists, when an animated version of a particular emoji is available, WhatsApp will share it rather than a static image.
However, no one knows if the general public will be able to deactivate these animated emojis when they are available on WhatsApp, and certainly if they will ever be available when WhatsApp decides to roll out the feature globally. Animated emoji will still be eligible for beta in mobile versions of apps. But so far there has been no official announcement.
First beta may be coming to desktop soon
WhatsApp also seems to be using the Lottie library for their animated emojis. These emoji are especially interesting because they are very light and can be easily enlarged without any loss in image quality.
Obviously, the animated emoji feature should not be enough to attract new users to the platform, but it can make WhatsApp a little more enjoyable in daily use. The Google Messages app and Apple’s iMessage counterpart have supported animated emoji for several years now. In other words, WhatsApp will only reduce its “lag”, at least in this aspect.