WhatsApp users can now doodle, add emoticons and colored text on shared images on the app.
After Facebook-owned Instagram added Snapchat-inspired features, another Facebook-owned app is now borrowing a feature from Snapchat. In a latest announcement from WhatsApp, the messaging app has added Snapchat-like ability to scribble over images. Essentially, WhatsApp now allows users to doodle and scribble on the images clicked or shared from the app, like in Snapchat. The feature was first rolled out to the beta version of the app in early September, and now it has been officially released to end users. The feature is currently available to Android users. iOS users are expected to soon receive the update as well.
Along with the Snapchat-like doodle feature, the update also brings additions like the ability to add emojis and color texts on top of the images, front-facing flash support, and the option to zoom in and out video recordings. Users can now just slide their fingers up and down to zoom in and out. The update also brings with it another Snapchat-like feature, which lets you instantly switch between front and back camera by double tapping on the screen.
While both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp have more than 1 billion monthly active users, far more than Snapchat’s, borrowing of features clearly indicates how Snapchat still stands as a potential threat to Facebook and its apps. This isn’t the first time that Facebook or any app services owned by it borrowed a feature from Snapchat. Just a few days ago, Facebook was reported to have been testing a Snapchat-inspired Stories feature for users in Poland. Under the guise of celebrating the “Messenger Day.” Facebook had rolled out a new tool which allowed users on Messenger to click and upload photos and videos, that are visible to all their friends, and disappear within 24 hours of being put up. And yes, these Messenger Stories can also be decorated using stickers, tests and doodles, just like in Snapchat, and now in Instagram Stories. ALSO READ: Facebook may soon roll out Snapchat Stories-like feature on Messenger
Last month, Messenger had rolled out a new feature called ‘Instant Video’, which again looks inspired from Snapchat’s instant videos. The Instant Video feature sends a live feed by tapping on the video icon, which is placed on the top right corner of the chat screen. As you begin the live feed, the video will float over the active chat conversation and you can view the live feed and chat at the same time. ALSO READ: Now you can invite others to public WhatsApp groups with shareable links, here’s how
A while ago, Facebook had also rolled out a ‘secret conversation feature’ on the app, which enables users to self destruct their conversations after setting a timer to it. A secret conversation in Messenger is basically an end-to-end encrypted conversation. Which means, that the particular conversation is meant only for the recipient and sender, and no one else, including Facebook, can access that conversation. Which again was clearly inspired from Snapchat’s messaging feature which disappears once viewed by the recipient, unless consciously saved by them. ALSO READ: Facebook Messenger Lite for Android announced; here’s everything you need to know