In what is being touted as Whatsapp's biggest outage ever, the popular messaging service has not been working since just after noon across the globe. Most reports were about messages not going through while others reported server disconnection and the app crashing altogether. It seems WhatsApp has been eclipsed much before the actual celestial event comes through. Or is it just possible that this is a precursor of new things to come? We just heard on the street that WhatsApp is adding a few new features for its 2 billion users who rely on it for not just business and payment use, but their minute-by-minute communications, both crucial and leisure.
The Bitmoji-inspired characters used by social media major Facebook, which had already taken over Instagram and Messenger, are now arriving on Whatsapp. The Verge reports that WhatsApp is reportedly pushing out support for adjustable avatars in the most recent Android 2.22.23.9 beta, but only for select users.
For those who have access to the functionality, the settings menu now includes an "Avatar" category that users may use to personalize the virtual representation of themselves. WhatsApp will then develop a sticker pack with the avatar in various poses, just like Meta's other products, so users can express themselves when texting family and friends.
Although WABetaInfo originally discovered this feature last month, users are now beginning to receive it. According to The Verge, WhatsApp hasn't said when the functionality will be available to all Android users or when it will be available on iOS.
Avatars were originally released by Meta in 2019 for Messenger and the News Feed, then in 2020, they were made usable in Facebook comments and stories. The firm started allowing users to add avatars to feed articles, Facebook profile images, and Instagram Stories earlier this year after giving them a new 3D appearance.
Meta's general manager for avatars and identity, Aigerim Shorman, praised the update as a component of Meta's efforts to develop its concept of the metaverse, which bridges "more familiar platforms like your phone and computer" in addition to virtual and augmented reality.
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