WhatsApp bringing group video calls, video chat coming to Instagram

With Facebook's F8 conference well underway, there has been plenty of new announcements made and a bit of saving face when it comes to privacy but for those of you out there still using WhatsApp or hitting up Instagram on the daily, you're about to get some new and perhaps, long-awaited, video features. Should you choose to use them, well, that's up to you.

For WhatsApp users, group video calls will soon be a thing although the specific details of how it all will work haven't been revealed. Presumably, it'll be a familiar process to other apps that support group video calls. In addition to group video calls, WhatsApp will be adding stickers as well. I know you all love stickers!

IG video chat

When it comes to Instagram, there's a bit more substance in the announcements. Video chat will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks:

More than 100 million Instagrammers watch or share on Live every day. But we've heard from our community that sometimes they also want to experience real-time video in a smaller group.

In the coming weeks, we'll bring video chat to Instagram and give friends a new way to spend time together — even when they aren't actually together.

To start a video chat, simply tap the new camera icon at the top of a Direct thread. You can chat one-on-one or with a small group — and you can keep the conversation going for as long as you like. You can also minimize the video and continue the chat while doing other things on Instagram.

But there are also improvements to Stories, and a new Instagram Explore design that 'makes discovery even easier' according to Instagram. Also, in a secondary announcement, Instagram noted they'll also be improving filters that help block unwanted comments and bullying.