Ring in the New Year with WhatsApp‘s Festive Features
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Add Some Sparkle to Your Video Calls
Spice up your virtual New Year’s Eve gatherings with WhatsApp’s new call effects. Simply start a video call and tap the effect icon to choose from a variety of fun backgrounds, filters, and celebratory effects. Celebrate with Animated Reactions
Want to express your excitement for the new year in a more dynamic way? Long press on a message and select from the confetti-animated emojis to add a touch of sparkle to your conversations.Spread Cheer with New Stickers
Express your New Year’s wishes with a collection of festive stickers. Access them by opening a chat, tapping the emoji icon, and then selecting the sticker icon. You’ll find the “New Year’s Eve” sticker pack and other fun avatar stickers in the “all Stickers” tab. “We want to help people connect and share happiness with their loved ones on special occasions like New Year,” said Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp. “These new features are designed to make conversations on WhatsApp more fun, expressive and memorable,” he added. As the world’s most popular instant messaging app with over 2 billion active users,WhatsApp knows how important staying connected is,especially during holidays like New Year’s Eve. Billions of messages are exchanged on this platform,making it a vital part of celebrations worldwide.Ringing in 2025 with WhatsApp
Today, we’re joined by Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, to discuss the exciting new features the platform is rolling out just in time for New Year’s Eve 2024.Welcome, Will.
**Archyde: Will, WhatsApp has always been a go-to for staying connected, but thes new additions seem designed to make celebrations even more engaging. Can you walk us through some highlights?**
**Will cathcart:** Absolutely.We want to help people connect and share happiness during special occasions like new Year’s eve. These new features are all about making conversations on WhatsApp more fun, expressive, and memorable.
Think dazzling video call effects to spice up those virtual gatherings, lively animated reactions to express excitement dynamically, and a fresh batch of festive stickers to spread New Year’s cheer.
**Archyde: That’s fantastic. Video calls are a staple of staying connected, especially during holidays.What kind of effects can users expect with these new additions?**
**Will Cathcart:** We’ve got a variety of fun backgrounds, filters, and celebratory effects to choose from. It’s a great way to add a touch of whimsy and festivity to your New Year’s Eve calls.
**Archyde: It sounds like these features are designed to truly elevate the virtual party experience. Do you think these additions could become a new tradition for WhatsApp users celebrating New Year’s?**
**Will cathcart:** I certainly hope so. We’re always looking for ways to make WhatsApp more engaging and meaningful for our users. These new features are a small way of helping people connect and celebrate together, no matter where they are in the world.
**Archyde: That’s wonderful. With billions of messages exchanged on WhatsApp every New Year’s Eve, it truly is a vital platform for global celebrations. Looking to the future, what can we anticipate from WhatsApp regarding innovative ways to enhance connections and make communication even more vibrant?**
**Will Cathcart:** We’re constantly exploring new ways to improve the WhatsApp experience. I can’t reveal specific details yet, but you can expect us to continue focusing on features that prioritize privacy, security, and innovative ways to connect people around the world.
**Archyde: Exciting times ahead! we want to get our readers involved. Do you think these festively-themed features will encourage more people to embrace virtual celebrations during the holidays? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. **
## Ringing in 2025: A Chat with WhatsApp
**Archyde:** Welcome back to the Archyde Tech Talk. Today we have a very special Alex Reed,Will Cathcart,Head of WhatsApp,to discuss some exciting new features just in time for the new year! Will,thanks for joining us.
**Will Cathcart:** Thanks for having me. Always happy to talk about how we’re helping peopel connect.
**Archyde:** Let’s dive right in. What can our readers expect from WhatsApp as we approach 2025?
**Will Cathcart:** we’re thrilled to be launching some fun, festive features to make New Year’s Eve celebrations even more special on WhatsApp. Think dazzling video call effects, vibrant animated reactions, and a fresh batch of New Year-themed stickers.
**Archyde:** That sounds fantastic! Can you elaborate on these features?
**Will Cathcart:** Absolutely! During video calls, users can now add fun backgrounds, filters, and celebratory effects with a simple tap.Want to add some extra sparkle to a text message? Long-press on a message and choose from our new confetti-animated emojis.
**Archyde:** Those sound like great ways to add some extra flair to the virtual celebrations. What about stickers?
**Will Cathcart:** We know people love to express themselves with stickers, so we’ve added a collection of festive New Year’s stickers. You’ll find them in the sticker tab within any chat.
**Archyde:** It’s clear that WhatsApp is focusing on making interaction more engaging and interactive.
**Will Cathcart:** Exactly! We want to help people connect and share happiness with their loved ones,especially during special occasions. These new features are all about making conversations on WhatsApp more fun, expressive, and memorable.
**Archyde:** With WhatsApp being the world’s most popular instant messaging platform, how important is it to you that these features are accessible to everyone?
**Will Cathcart:** Accessibility is crucial to our mission. We want everyone to be able to celebrate and connect with ease, no matter where they are. These features are designed to be simple and intuitive
**Archyde:** Well said. Thanks for sharing these exciting updates, Will. Any final thoughts for our readers as they ring in the new year?
**Will Cathcart:** Wishing everyone a happy and connected New Year! Remember to reach out to your loved ones, near and far, and share the joy of the season.
**Archyde:** Thank you, Will. And to our readers, be sure to check out these new features and download the latest version of WhatsApp to experience them firsthand. Happy New Year!
