Instagram, Messenger Users Can Now Use Meta Avatars in Video Calls: How It Works
Meta, the company behind Instagram and Messenger, has recently announced an exciting new feature for video calls – real-time Avatars. In a blog post, Meta shared that users can now use their Avatars during video calls on both Instagram and Messenger. These Avatars bear a resemblance to Apple's Memoji avatars and are designed to mimic users' facial expressions and mouth movements, adding a fun and interactive element to video chats. The feature is currently rolling out to both Android and iOS devices.
With this new feature, users can create their own digital Avatars and have them appear in video calls, eliminating the need to turn off the camera. This enhancement aims to make conversations on Instagram and Messenger more engaging, useful, and social. In a demo video shared in the blog post, the Avatars in video calls are shown to closely follow users' facial expressions and movements, bringing a touch of personalization and expression to the virtual communication experience.
In addition to the Avatar feature, Meta has introduced animated stickers and social stickers that can be shared across Instagram, Facebook Stories, Reels, Messenger, and Threads. These animated stickers allow users to go beyond static images and send dynamic emojis like thumbs up, applause, and facepalm, making conversations more expressive and lively.
Meta's introduction of the Avatar feature and animated stickers reflects its commitment to enhancing video calling and messaging
In addition to the Avatar feature for Instagram and Messenger, Meta is also working on a new feature for Facebook and WhatsApp. This feature will allow users to take a live selfie and create an avatar that closely resembles their real-life appearance. It's an exciting development that aims to provide users with a more personalized and lifelike avatar experience. Meta is also making efforts to standardize the look of avatars across all its platforms, including VR Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. This means that users will have a consistent avatar experience across different Meta platforms, making it easier to recognize and connect with others.
Moving on to Instagram, they recently introduced a new feature in the United States that allows users to download Reels shared by public accounts. This feature was announced by Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, through his Instagram broadcast channel. In India, users have slightly different options for sharing and saving Reels. They can directly share Reels in their Stories or through chat, and they also can save their favorite Reels in the saved Reels tabs. These features aim to enhance the overall Reels experience, making it easier for users to enjoy and share their favorite content.