WhatsApp Joins Hands With Giphy To Bring Custom Sticker Maker To Android

In a bid to enhance user experience, WhatsApp has said that it is broadening its sticker offerings through a collaboration with Giphy, the well-known GIF search platform.

In a bid to enhance user experience, WhatsApp has said that it is broadening its sticker offerings through a collaboration with Giphy, the well-known GIF search platform. This integration aims to provide users with a more diverse and engaging selection of stickers directly within the messaging app. The WhatsApp-Giphy partnership will let WhatsApp users to search and share stickers by tapping the sticker icon in their chat window. Users can browse through the expanded library using text or emoji searches, making it easier to find the perfect sticker for any conversation.

Custom Sticker Maker

WhatsApp, which boasts the largest user base among messaging apps worldwide, is also expanding its creative tools. The platform is now rolling out its custom sticker maker feature to Android users, after its successful launch on iOS in January 2024. This tool empowers users to create personalised stickers from their own photos or modify existing ones using various editing options such as cropping, adding text, and drawing.

The custom sticker maker streamlines the process of sticker creation and sharing. Once a user designs a sticker, it's automatically saved in their sticker tray for quick access in future conversations. This feature aims to add a personal touch to messaging, allowing users to express themselves more creatively.

These updates reflect WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to improve user engagement and provide more expressive communication options within its platform.

This development comes in the wake of significant changes in Giphy's ownership. In May 2023, Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, divested Giphy to Shutterstock, a leading provider of stock media, for $53 million. This sale followed a complex acquisition attempt by Meta, which was ultimately thwarted by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2022.

Notably, the regulatory body had blocked Meta's initial $315 million purchase of Giphy due to competition concerns.