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The COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant pressure on digital communication platforms to get with the times as they compete with each other to provide a service that allows people to stay connected while isolated from friends and family, or keep up to date with colleagues while working from home.

According to the WhatsApp Blog, with more than two billion users around the world, WhatsApp remains one of the most widely used messaging apps out there.

In an effort to stay current, the app is pushing forward its product design, with new features to ensure anyone, anywhere, can connect.

Here’s what we can expect in the coming weeks:

• Animated Stickers: Stickers are one of the fastest growing ways people communicate on WhatsApp, with billions sent every day. We are rolling out new animated sticker packs that are even more fun and expressive.
• QR codes: We are making it easier than ever to add a new contact. Soon when you meet someone new, you will be able to scan their QR code to add them to your contacts. No more tapping in their digits one at a time.
• Dark mode for WhatsApp web and desktop: The incredibly popular Dark Mode theme now extends to your computer.
• Improvements to group video calls: With now up to 8 people on a video call, we’ve made it easier to focus on whoever you want by letting you press and hold to maximize a participant’s video to full screen. We also added a video icon in group chats of 8 or less, so you can easily start a group video call with 1-tap.
• Status comes to KaiOS: KaiOS users can now enjoy the popular feature that lets you share updates that disappear after 24 hours.

Animated stickers – because words are so 2019. The improvements to group video calls are definitely welcome, though.

WhatsApp summed it all up nicely in the promo video:

The company is also testing out a redesign of the Storage Usage section of WhatsApp.

Most of us use the messaging app, so all of this looks promising.

Just make sure you’ve updated to the latest version if you want to take advantage of all that’s coming your way.

[source:whatsapp]