The WhatsApp team is working hard to develop new features for the instant messaging service.
Four new updates were revealed earlier this month and it’s all about creativity and convenience.
The upgrades aim to make WhatsApp more user-friendly and enjoyable, with a focus on private and secure messaging.
WhatsApp is South Africa’s most popular messaging app with more than 10 million local active users.
Here is what you can expect from the new additions:
QUICK TAP REACTION
Previously, reacting to messages required a press-and-hold action. A new double-tap feature allows users to quickly react to messages, with a scrolling menu of frequently used emojis for convenience. Love that idea? Double tap a red heart emoji.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, BACKGROUND
Building on the success of last year’s video call effects, users can apply 30 different backgrounds, filters, and effects to photos and videos sent in chats.
CUTE SELFIE STICKERS
Stickers are one of the most fun ways to interact on WhatsApp. When you tap the Create Sticker icon, you will be able to see a new camera option to snap a selfie and instantly turn it into a sticker. This feature is currently available on Android and will soon be available on iOS.
STICKER PACK SHARING
WhatsApp fans will be able to share entire sticker packs directly within chats, making it easier to share favourite stickers with friends.
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF WHATSAPP USERS
According to Exploding Topics, a platform that detects internet search trends, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app with 2 billion monthly users.
Male users make up 52.3% of all users, while female users account for 47.6%.
It is also the leading messaging app in more than 60 countries, with users in Argentina opening the app the most. South Africa is fifth on the list, behind Indonesia, Colombia and Brazil.
WhatsApp Business has experienced remarkable growth in recent years.
In 2018, the app was downloaded by just under 40 million users. By 2023, this number surged to approximately 316.16 million, marking a significant increase.
WHAT NEW WHATSAPP FEATURE ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO USING?
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