With its brand new Selfie GIF feature, Google Messages now allows you to send animated self-portraits in your messages. Enough to personalize your conversations with a fun touch!
Installed as standard on most Android smartphones, Google Messages continues to appeal to users, going so far as to establish itself as one of the most popular instant messengers. Its management of RCS – Rich Communication Services –, a communication protocol intended to replace the aging SMS and MMS for the exchange of messages on mobile, has nothing to do with it, but the application has also acquired, over the years, many functions that found among its competitors, such as WhatsApp or Signal. Thus, it now integrates dynamic reactions – a small animation is triggered when you react to a message using one of the ten most popular emojis – and is preparing to integrate Gemini, Google’s generative AI , to compose messages and help users adjust the tone of their discussions. This time, Google Messages goes further in the interactivity of messaging and now allows you to record short “Selfie GIF”. These are short, three-second videos made using the smartphone’s selfie camera. A fun function that allows you to express an emotion, share a funny reaction or simply greet a contact.
Selfie GIF in Google Messages: fun and personalized animations
Selfie GIF is very easy to use. Just open a conversation and, in the message entry bar, long-press the camera icon. It is also possible to record a Selfie GIF by tapping a prompt that appears directly in the conversation. A countdown is then displayed before recording starts and then stops automatically after three seconds. Note that it is also possible to press the red button to start recording manually. Once the recording is complete, all that remains is to press “Send”. At the same time, the GIF is saved in the smartphone gallery so that it can be sent to a contact or shared on social networks.
The function, already spotted last January, is currently being deployed. It is therefore possible that you will have to wait a little before being able to benefit from it. This new tool comes shortly after the application adopted a custom camera interface, thus abandoning its dependence on the native photo application of smartphones. Note that Selfie GIF is reminiscent of what Apple offers with its Live Photos and Live Stickers.