With our increasing reliance on technology to keep in

touch, especially with people now forced to stay home more due to COVID-19, WhatsApp

has introduced new features to make its platform more useful.

Among the announced features for WhatsApp’s two

billion users are dark mode for its web and desktop applications and animated

stickers. In addition to how sleek and cool it looks, the dark mode feature will

allow users to prolong battery life and protect their eyes from blinding light

when in dark or poorly lit spaces.

WhatsApp said billions of stickers are sent daily, and

that it’s one of the fastest growing ways people communicate on the platform. “We

are rolling out new animated sticker packs that are even more fun and

expressive”, it said.

Additionally, the company will introduce QR codes

which will make it easier to add new contacts by scanning. “No more tapping in

their digits one at a time”, it said.

Improved group video calls will also be one of the features rolled out, with up to eight people on a call. “We’ve made it easier to focus on whoever you want by letting you press and hold to maximise 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.”

The new features will be rolled out in the coming

weeks and available on the latest versions of WhatsApp.