WhatsApp has evolved into more than just a messaging platform. you’re able to use it to reach your friends through text, emoji,video messages, GIFs, stickers, and more. Its voice and video calling features have also improved in recent times with expanded group support andcall linksfor a wider use case. And soon, WhatsApp could make your video calls more fun with avatar support.
Meta rolled out avatar— its take on Snapchat’s Bitomij — on WhatsApp in December 2022. Like Bitmoji, you can customize your avatar as per your liking and then use it as your display picture or sticker pack in conversations. With the latest WhatsApp beta for Android v2.23.19.14, the messaging service could soon let you use your avatar in video calls.
This would provide a great way to make your video calls more fun and interactive, as the avatar will mimic your facial expressions and movements (viaWABetaInfo). Using avatar won’t disable end-to-end encryption on video calls, ensuring your safety and privacy are not compromised. But do note that some data is used by Meta to further improve the avatar experience.
Besides avatar support in video calls, WhatsApp was found working onavatar reactions for Status updates. These avatar-related changes could helponce WhatsApp’s alleged Meta Quest support lands.
You can already use your avatar in video calls on Instagram and Messenger. The three messaging services share many underlying features, and the ability to use avatar during video calls would be another addition to that list. Zoom also lets you use an animated avatar on video calls.
You can currently have up to 32 people in a group WhatsApp video call, though you can only initiate the call with 15 people simultaneously.
WhatsApp wasfirst spotted working on avatars for video callsin June 2022. The feature is currently available for some users on the latest beta release of the Android app. If your avatar is set up, try making a video call to see if the option to use it pops up. Meta has been rapidly adding new features to WhatsApp in recent months, and its possible avatar support on video calls could go live in the next few months.
In the last few weeks alone, WhatsApprolled out Channel support globally, enabledHD photo and video sharing, and addedscreen-sharing support for video calls. On the beta channel, the service has been found working on abig redesign of the Android app,testing Zoom-like call scheduling,multi-account support, a sleek new animation whenswitching between audio and video messages, and more. These rapid feature additions have ensured WhatsApp remains among ourfavorite messaging apps for Androideven after all these years.
