Facebook on Tuesday announced three new features aimed at making the platform more creative and visually engaging. Powered by Meta AI, the updates introduce animated profile photos, AI-driven photo restyling for Stories and Memories, and animated backgrounds for text posts.
The rollout marks a notable shift for Facebook, which has seen relatively fewer high-profile feature launches in recent years compared with Instagram and WhatsApp. The new tools appear designed to appeal particularly to younger users, allowing them to personalise profiles and posts with motion, styles, and AI-generated effects.
One of the most eye-catching additions is animated profile pictures, which apply motion effects to still photos. These animations can make subjects appear to wave, form a heart shape, or wear a virtual party hat, adding a playful dimension to profile pages.
For optimal results, Facebook recommends using a clear photo of a single person facing the camera. Users can choose images directly from their camera roll or from photos already uploaded on Facebook. The company has also said it plans to introduce more animation styles later this year, expanding creative options further.
Facebook is also upgrading Stories and Memories with “Restyle,” a new Meta AI-powered feature. After uploading a photo to Stories or selecting a Memory to share, users can tap Restyle to reimagine the image’s appearance.
The tool allows users to:
Enter text-based prompts
Choose from preset styles such as anime or illustrated
Adjust moods, lighting, colours, and visual styles
Add AI-generated backdrops like beaches or cityscapes
These options give users more control over how their photos look, turning everyday images into stylised, shareable content.
Another update focuses on text posts, a long-standing part of Facebook’s experience. Users can now add animated backgrounds to text-only posts, making them more visually dynamic and expressive.
The move reflects Facebook’s broader push to keep traditional post formats relevant in an era increasingly dominated by short-form video and visual storytelling.
Alongside creative tools, Meta is also updating Facebook’s feed design. The refreshed layout gives users quicker access to Reels and other popular sections, including Friends, Marketplace, and Profile, placing them front and centre.
Meta has previously emphasised its goal of simplifying the Facebook experience, particularly around short-form video. The redesign supports this strategy by making Reels easier to find and watch, aligning Facebook more closely with evolving user consumption habits.
With these AI-powered features and interface changes, Facebook is signalling a renewed focus on creativity, personalisation, and discoverability. By leveraging Meta AI and emphasising animated visuals, the platform is looking to stay relevant for younger audiences while modernising how users express themselves.
The updates reflect Meta’s broader ambition to integrate AI deeply across its apps — not just as a backend technology, but as a visible, creative tool for everyday social interactions.