Looking to add more personality to your Instagram profile picture? Now, you can create a dynamic profile that seamlessly displays both your static profile photo and a custom animated avatar—perfect for sharing a bit more of your personality.

Instagram’s dynamic profile picture feature, launched in January 2023, combines your standard profile photo with a customizable animated avatar. This allows followers to flip between your static image and your animated self-portrait with a simple swipe. If you’re not familiar with avatars on Instagram, they were first introduced in early 2022 for Stories and messages and are now available for profile pictures.

Customizing Your Avatar

Instagram’s animated avatars are customizable, similar to Apple’s Memoji and Samsung’s AR Emoji, with no fixed gender settings. You can personalize various features to match your style. Avatars are public by default, but privacy settings allow you to control who can see them.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Dynamic Profile Picture

Step 1: Start Creating Your Avatar

1. Ensure you have the latest version of Instagram on your Android or iOS device.
2. Go to your profile page and tap “Edit Profile.”
3. If you haven’t created an avatar before, you may see a prompt inviting you to “Create Your Avatar.” Select it, or tap “Edit picture or avatar” to get started.

Step 2: Customize Your Avatar

1. Begin by selecting a skin tone, then dive into customizations such as hairstyle, face shape, and outfit.
2. The options are extensive, allowing adjustments from facial features to makeup, accessories, and body type.
3. Use a two-finger pinch to zoom in or rotate the avatar with a swipe for better detail viewing.
4. For more personalization options, select “More Personalization” for finer adjustments like brows, lashes, and facial hair.
5. Instagram includes a virtual store for additional personal touches; once satisfied, tap “Save” to finish your avatar.

Note: If your Instagram is synced with Facebook, it will offer the option to “Sync” avatars across both platforms.

Step 3: Add the Avatar to Your Profile Picture

1. Head back to the “Edit Profile” page.
2. Instagram may prompt you to “Enhance your profile picture with your avatar.” If not, select your avatar and enable the “Add to profile picture” option.
3. This action combines your profile photo and avatar into a double-sided profile picture that followers can swipe to see both versions.

Step 4: Personalize Background and Pose (Optional)

1. To add final touches, adjust the avatar’s background color and choose from various poses for a more personal look.
2. Swipe to show the avatar on the “Edit Profile” screen, tap to adjust, and select your preferred background and pose options.

If you ever want to remove the avatar, use the ellipsis (•••) menu in the profile editor to hide it.

Conclusion

Creating a dynamic profile picture on Instagram allows you to showcase both your static image and animated avatar, adding depth and personality to your online presence. This feature not only enhances user engagement but also provides an innovative way for individuals to express themselves creatively.

As this feature becomes more widely adopted, it will be interesting to see how users leverage it for personal branding and community interaction on the platform. By following these steps, you can easily set up your own dynamic profile picture and make your Instagram account stand out!

WhatsApp has recently introduced a new feature known as Channel Categories, aimed at enhancing the user experience by simplifying the process of discovering and following channels that align with individual interests. This update is expected to significantly boost user engagement on the platform, which boasts over 500 million monthly users engaging with WhatsApp Channels.

Overview of Channel Categories

The new categorization system divides channels into seven distinct groups:

• People
• Organizations
• Lifestyle
• Sports
• Entertainment
• Businesses
• News & Information

Accessible through the Explore option in the Updates tab, this feature allows users to navigate easily through various categories, making it simpler to find content that resonates with their preferences. The automated categorization process means that channel owners no longer need to manually assign categories, streamlining the user experience further.

Enhancing User Experience

The implementation of Channel Categories is designed to improve how users interact with content on WhatsApp. By enabling users to filter search results by category, WhatsApp not only saves time but also encourages exploration of a wider range of channels. This could lead to increased satisfaction as users discover new interests and communities within the app.

The organized structure provided by Channel Categories is anticipated to enhance overall user engagement, allowing for a more intuitive browsing experience. As users delve into different categories, they may find channels that they might not have otherwise encountered, broadening their content consumption.

Celebrity Engagement

The timing of this new feature coincides with the rising popularity of WhatsApp Channels among public figures and celebrities. Notable Bollywood stars such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Ayushmann Khurrana have launched their own channels, offering exclusive content and personal insights. For instance, Khurrana’s channel promises followers a glimpse into his life, sharing behind-the-scenes updates and creative endeavors like poetry. This personal touch aims to foster closer connections between celebrities and their fans.

Future Developments

In addition to Channel Categories, WhatsApp is enhancing its artificial intelligence capabilities. The platform plans to roll out a two-way voice chat feature powered by Meta AI, allowing users to interact with chatbots in a more personalized manner. This feature will offer various voice options, including those of celebrities, enriching user interaction on the platform.

The introduction of AI-driven features aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to integrate advanced technology into its messaging services. By providing users with unique voice interactions, WhatsApp aims to create a more engaging and dynamic communication experience.

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s launch of Channel Categories marks a significant advancement in creating a user-friendly environment for content discovery. By organizing channels into distinct categories and enhancing AI capabilities for personalized interactions, WhatsApp is positioning itself as a more engaging platform for its vast user base. As this feature gains traction, it will be interesting to see how both users and channel creators adapt to this new system, potentially reshaping the way content is consumed on the app.

Setting up partner sharing in Google Photos is a convenient way to share your photos and albums with a specific person, making it ideal for couples, families, or close friends. This feature allows both partners to view and contribute to shared memories seamlessly. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to set up partner sharing in Google Photos.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Partner Sharing

1. Open Google Photos

To begin, launch the Google Photos app on your mobile device or visit the Google Photos website at photos.google.com. Make sure you are logged into your Google account.

2. Access Settings

• Mobile App: Tap on your Profile Picture in the top right corner of the app.
• Desktop: Click on the gear icon (Settings) located in the upper right corner of the screen.

3. Select Partner Sharing

In the settings menu, find and select Partner Sharing. This option will initiate the process of inviting your partner to share photos.

4. Add Your Partner

You will be prompted to enter your partner’s email address. If they are already in your Google Contacts, you can select their name from the list. After entering their information, click Next.

5. Choose Sharing Options

You will have several options regarding what you want to share:

• Entire Library: Share all your photos with your partner.
• Specific Albums: Choose particular albums or folders to share.
• Photos of Selected People: Opt to share only photos that include specific people recognized by Google Photos.

Additionally, you can set a date range for sharing, allowing you to share only photos taken after a certain date.

6. Send Invitation

Once you have made your selections, click Send Invitation. Your partner will receive an email invitation to accept the shared access. They need to accept this invitation to start viewing and contributing to the shared content.

7. Accepting the Invitation

Your partner can accept the invitation via email or directly within their Google Photos app if they have it installed. After accepting, they will gain access to the shared library or albums based on your settings.

8. Share Back (Optional)

Once your partner has accepted the invitation, they can also choose to share their own photo library with you. They can do this by clicking on the ellipsis icon (three dots) in their Google Photos app and selecting Share Back.

Managing Partner Sharing Settings

After setting up partner sharing, you can manage and modify settings at any time:

• Return to the Partner Sharing section in Settings.
• You can change what is shared or remove access if needed.

Benefits of Partner Sharing

Partner sharing in Google Photos provides several advantages:

• Collaboration: Both partners can contribute photos, making it easier to compile memories from different perspectives.
• Organization: Shared albums help keep memories organized and accessible for both parties.
• Convenience: The ability to set specific sharing preferences allows for personalized control over what is shared.

Conclusion

Setting up partner sharing in Google Photos is an excellent way to keep your memories organized and accessible for both partners. By following these straightforward steps, you can easily create a shared photo library that enhances collaboration and strengthens connections through shared experiences. Whether for personal use or family albums, this feature simplifies photo management and fosters deeper relationships through shared memories.