According to WABetaInfo, the go-to source for WhatsApp updates, the latest beta for Android version 2.24.5.10 from the Google Play Store reveals that the app is working on support for animated stickers built on the Lottie framework. These will complement the basic WebP-based stickers already available.
Lottie makes stickers on WhatsApp more interesting by adding movements, transitions, and effects. Plus, you can make them bigger or smaller without losing any quality, so they look great on all types of screens and chats. Unlike traditional animation formats like GIFs, Lottie uses vector graphics, which can be scaled to any size without pixelation, ensuring crispness on different screens.
The feature to share Lottie stickers is currently under development and will be available in a future update of the app. In addition to implementing Lottie support for stickers, WhatsApp is also working on support for animated emojis.
Messaging apps are evolving beyond text, images, and videos. Many apps now support GIFs, customizable sticker packs, and new Unicode emoji additions. For example, Google Messages, a key rival of WhatsApp, recently introduced a new feature called Screen Effects (for now, for beta users). This feature adds animations in the background of a message when specific phrases are sent or received, emphasizing the message’s intent.
As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in apps and devices, new ways of reacting and interacting are on the horizon. Meta, for instance, has already introduced AI stickers to Instagram, Facebook Stories, Messenger, and WhatsApp, offering users even more expressive options.
