WhatsApp goes the Snapchat way: Lets you doodle on images, videos and add emojis

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has now borrowed features from Snapchat. The messaging app has now added the ability to write or draw on photos and videos, as well as add emojis. The feature is currently available for Android users. It is expected to arrive soon to iOS.

WhatsApp mentioned in a press statement, “When you capture a new photo or video or share one that's already on your phone, you'll automatically see the new editing tools. Whether you’re drawing a big red heart to show how much you miss someone or adding your favorite emoji - sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. Try adding text too, and change the color and font style.”

The new WhatsApp camera feature now supports the front-facing flash as well. In low light and at night, this will brighten up the screen and improve the quality of a photo. The update also brings in a zooming feature for recording videos.

Recently, Facebook announced that it plans to launch"Lite" version of Messenger for users in markets with unstable internet connections, or those with dated smartphones. The Lite app is under 10MB, making it easy to download and install. It uses the same logo as Messenger, but with the colours reversed to make it distinguishable. Messenger Lite is starting to roll out to people in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela, with other countries to receive it in the coming months.

Messenger Lite for Android, according to Engineering Manager Tom Mulcahy, is a standalone app that offers the core features of the Messenger app, including the ability to send text, photos and links to people using both the Messenger and Lite apps. "More than 1 billion people around the world use Messenger every month from a range of mobile devices on networks of various speeds and reliability. With Messenger Lite, more people can stay in contact, regardless of network conditions or storage limitations on their Android devices," he said in theannouncement.