WhatsApp continues to renew its interface and add functions that seek to improve the user experience.

In recent weeks, the platform Goal has introduced a series of new icons that modify elements that have been part of the application since its inception and that, from now on, we will see daily in both group and individual chats.

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What’s new in WhatsApp icons?

One of the most striking new features is the incorporation of the voice chatsaccompanied by a new icon shaped like sound waves.

After updating to the latest version of the app, it appears within the chats – for now only in groups, although it will also begin to be deployed in individual conversations – allowing you to open a communication channel very similar to that offered by platforms such as Discord.

This tool allows you to talk in real time without having to initiate a traditional call, which improves fluidity, reduces interruptions and offers more flexible operation.

When you press the button, the app asks for confirmation to start the voice chat and activates it without sending push notifications to the participants.

Once created, the user can decide whether or not to notify the group for other members to join. The conversation remains active even if you leave the application or the chat itself, maintaining its light and practical nature.

Another relevant change is the disappearance of the classic “Writing…” that appeared under the contact’s name.

Meta has decided to replace it with a ellipsis iconlocated under the last received message. The same goes for the voice memo indicator: the message “Recording audio” disappears and in its place appears a microphone icon which indicates when the other person is recording.

Although these icons do not perform any action when touched, their new location may require a short adjustment period, since users were accustomed to looking for these signals at the top of the screen.

These new features are now available on both Android and iOS.

New WhatsApp icons: what does each one mean?

Here is the meaning of the most recent and representative icons within the application:

• waves icon: Represents the real-time audio chats. It works as a channel in which participants can speak fluently, enter and exit whenever they want and without starting a conventional call.

• Ellipsis icon (…): Replaces the traditional “Writing…”. Indicates that the other person is writing a message and appears under the last received message.

• microphone icon: Replaces the phrase “Recording audio”. He points out that the contact you are recording a voice memoalso located under the previous message.

• Blue and purple circle: Identifies the presence of Meta AIthe artificial intelligence assistant integrated into WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger and Instagram.

In addition to these recent icons, WhatsApp maintains other classic symbols that help identify the status of messages: just a gray check (sent but not delivered), two gray check marks (delivered), two blue accents (read), clock (in shipping process), clips (attach), smiley face emoji (emojis and GIFs), camera (quick capture), padlock (end-to-end encryption), among others.

Other functions coming to WhatsApp

The update also incorporates improvements in video calls, such as filters, visual effects and customizable backgrounds using the magic wand icon.

In the states, interactions expand with private ‘I like you’, mentions with “@”and the new sticker ‘Your turn’which invites other users to respond with their own publications, creating participatory chains between contacts.

Finally, the advanced chat privacy reinforces security, making it difficult to export, capture or externally store messages and files.