Google Meet In-Meeting Emoji Reactions is Finally Coming This January

Teejay Boris, Tech Times 11 January 2023, 11:01 pm

Google Meet's in-meeting emoji reactions feature is finally coming to users this January, several months since the search giant announced it.

The tech behemoth confirmed that it is on its way to Google Meet on various platforms, such as the web and iOS.

(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 08: People walk past the Google pavilion at CES 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 8, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and features about 4,500 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 170,000 attendees.

So if you are an Android user, you will have to wait a little longer than iPhone users. Google-powered phones are seemingly getting left behind.

Google Meet In-Meeting Emoji Reactions

The tech giant announced last year that Google Meet is adding a new feature that allows users to react using emojis during meetings.

As per a report by The Verge, the feature brings a new option that lets meeting participants drop an emoji during a video conference. The option works similarly to how Facebook emoji reactions on posts do, or better yet, what Zoom offers.

Emoji options include thumb up, heart, launching, and clapping reactions. It also provides a thumbs-down reaction.

It sure is a handy tool for both the host and other participants, notes The Verge. The latter can easily share their feelings, while speakers get a live reaction from their audience without much disruption.

Emoji lovers have been waiting for this feature since April 2022. After all, Google says that it is rolling out the feature to Meet on the web for Chrome browser users.

However, 2022 has bid us farewell, and it has yet to see the light of day.

This time, Phone Arena reports that the reactions feature is now on its way to iPhone users and those using Meet via the web. Meet Hardware devices also support the new feature once it rolls out.

Not Available to Android Users?

Given that, the in-meeting emoji reactions are skipping Android devices.

If you are an Android user, you might want to join Meet sessions via the Web, in the meantime. You do not necessarily have to buy an iPhone right away, as the tech giant says it is "coming soon."

So it looks like Google is working on it. Yet, the reason behind the delay is unclear.

When are Emoji Reactions Coming to Google Meet?

The renowned tech firm confirmed that the much-awaited feature is coming to Meet users this January 16, Monday.

As such, users could finally start firing up emoji reactions during meetings starting next week.

However, Phone Arena notes in its report that hosts could turn off this feature if they want to. By default, though, the new Google Meet feature is turned on.