WhatsApp experiments with animated emojis, following Telegram's lead

This feature appeared in the development of WhatsApp Desktop beta and it is expected to be released in a future update of the app, according to WABetaInfo.

The messaging app's latest desktop beta version features animated emoji, which appear similar to the ones on Telegram and are sent automatically when available. Currently "under development" for WhatsApp Web and Desktop versions, the company plans to bring these animated emoji to its iOS and Android apps as well.

However, unlike Telegram, WhatsApp does not currently offer an option to disable animated emoji, which could be a concern for some users. The platform has also been experimenting with other features such as short video messages and a new Expiring Groups feature.