WhatsApp Tests Messages and Media Sticker Reactions

Have you ever wondered, “doesn’t it do that already?” when a tech company introduced a new feature? With WhatsApp’s most recent addition, one can understand it a lot.

According to a WABetaInfo leak, the app is set to expand your options for responding to media files and communications by allowing you to use stickers.

Obviously it’s confusing with messaging apps, but one believed it had already done that.

WhatsApp is developing a feature that will let users use stickers to respond to media and messages. Emoji reactions are already supported by the platform, allowing users to choose any compatible emoji on the app to convey how they feel about a message. According to reports, WhatsApp is now including “sticker reactions” into its Android app for media files and communications. The most recent WhatsApp for Android beta, Android 2.25.13.23, which is accessible through the Google Play Beta program, features the feature. However, because it is still in development, testers are unable to test it out.

WABetaInfo, a feature tracker, claims in a blog post that WhatsApp will soon enable users to use stickers to respond to messages and media. This would enable users to swiftly respond to a message without having to type it out. According to reports, the whole selection of stickers in the sticker keyboard—including those acquired from WhatsApp’s official Sticker Store—will be supported by the new functionality.

According to the feature tracker, users will also be able to use previously saved stickers in addition to third-party stickers retrieved through external apps. Reactions will accept animated stickers, including those created with the Lottie Framework. WhatsApp hopes to improve emotions by using animated stickers, which are more lively and expressive than static emoticons.

For Android smartphones, the feature was observed in development on WhatsApp beta 2.25.13.23. As it is still in the early stages of development, it is not yet available for testing. Rival messaging app iMessage currently supports sticker reactions for media and texts.

A small panel of standard emoji, such as a heart, a thumbs-up, and so forth, along with any emoji you’ve recently used, now makes up WhatsApp’s reaction pop-up. However, WABetaInfo says that adding stickers should be possible soon. It might function similarly to Apple’s Messages app’s sticker answers.

The feature, which was found in the most recent Android beta, is reportedly undergoing testing. When it launches, you will be able to respond with stickers from the sticker keyboard.

Additionally, a screenshot of the sticker reaction function is included in the report to give us an idea of how it might seem once it launches. According to the screenshot, if you long-press the message, a pop-up menu with six emojis and a sticker would appear. At the moment, message reactions can only use every emoji that a smartphone has to provide.

Beta testers do not currently have access to the sticker reactions capability, which may change prior to the official release. Prior to being made accessible to all users on the stable channel, it is anticipated that beta testers will be the first to receive it.

This implies that you will be able to use all of the stickers that you have downloaded from the official WhatsApp Sticker Store. Additionally, according to WABetaInfo, you will be able to utilize stickers that you have saved to your smartphone as well as third-party stickers that are offered by other apps.

The feature allows stickers created with the Lottie Framework, which is intended to provide fluid animation without large file sizes, thus such stickers won’t always be static. As a result, you ought to be able to reply with many more expressive options than just flat emoji.

Although the feature’s release date is unknown, if it is in the beta, it is obviously in a highly advanced testing stage. It should come in a reasonable amount of time.