Keypoints:
- Animated emojis and avatar stickers go live
- Easier group creation and shared captions
- Channels now support photo polls, starred posts
WHATSAPP is shaking things up with a wave of creative new features aimed at making chats, calls and status updates more expressive and interactive.
In a post shared via its official WhatsApp Channel this week, the platform revealed a roundup of updates rolled out in recent months across the Chats, Calls, and Updates tabs. From animated emojis to group mentions, the changes highlight WhatsApp’s push to evolve messaging beyond plain text — without compromising end-to-end encryption.
Chats: emoji movement, animated stickers, and flexible groups
The most eye-catching update is the launch of animated emojis, which now bring your everyday expressions to life with subtle motion, adding a layer of fun to chats with family and friends.
For those who enjoy personalising their messages, a new animated sticker maker allows users to turn videos into custom moving stickers. Meanwhile, avatar-based social stickers are now available in one-to-one chats — but only if both users have avatars set up and saved each other as contacts.
Group chat management has also been simplified: users can now create a group with just a name, and add members later or share an invite link. This reduces the friction involved in kicking off new conversations or project spaces.
On the multimedia front, WhatsApp now supports shared captions across multiple photos or videos, and recipients can react or reply to both individual items and the full batch.
Calls: filters, effects and better navigation
WhatsApp’s Calls tab has been given a visual and functional boost. A dedicated space now lets users make calls, share call links, and view call history more easily.
To add flair to video calls, the app has introduced six new filters and six visual effects, allowing users to customise their look or add some fun when connecting in real time.
Updates: Channels and Status get smarter
The Updates tab, home to both Status and Channels, has received key enhancements to boost visibility and interaction.
Channel admins can now run photo-based polls, turning basic surveys into visually engaging choices. Users also have the ability to star favourite updates in Channels, making it easier to revisit them later.
One particularly social new feature is group mentions in Status updates. Users can now tag entire groups in their statuses — triggering notifications for all group members and allowing them to reshare the post in their own updates.
More changes coming soon
WhatsApp says these features are just the beginning. With more updates on the horizon, the app is doubling down on features that offer greater creativity, personalisation and connectivity — especially for younger users and creators.
