A new feature on WhatsApp for Android may enhance the experience of video calls and image capturing within the app. According to a feature tracker, the popular messaging platform is experimenting with camera effects. This upcoming functionality is expected to introduce filters, backgrounds, and various effects that can be applied to users’ faces during video calls or when taking photos. Some effects may require users to activate them manually, while others could be triggered automatically in response to gestures and facial expressions.
WhatsApp Camera Effects Feature
The information comes from WABetaInfo, a renowned feature tracker, which noted that the feature was detected in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.22.10, now available on the Play Store. At this stage, the feature is visible only to a limited number of beta testers.
Screenshots shared by the feature tracker reveal that users can enable or disable the camera effects from the app’s Privacy settings. A new toggle labeled Allow camera effects will be available in the settings menu. The accompanying description states, “To provide a more expressive experience, some effects will mimic your face and hands.”
This feature will function during picture capturing or video calls. The feature tracker pointed out that certain effects can be applied automatically in response to users’ facial expressions, movements, and hand gestures, while others can be manually activated via on-screen options.
Control over the camera effects can be managed not only through the privacy settings but also directly from the camera interface and video call screen, offering users convenient access. Notably, the feature tracker emphasized that these camera effects do not interfere with WhatsApp’s encryption protocols, ensuring that even with the feature enabled, video calls remain secure with end-to-end encryption.
While the camera effects are currently being tested by select beta users, there is no information available on when the feature might be released to the broader user base.
