Meta just added AI animations to Facebook profile pictures and posts. Meta is bringing generative AI deeper into everyday Facebook use, starting with one of the most personal elements on the platform: the profile picture. In a new update announced on Meta’s official blog, Facebook users can now animate their profile photos, turning static images into short, expressive animations powered by Meta AI. The rollout also introduces AI-driven restyling tools for Stories and Memories, as well as animated backgrounds for text posts in the Feed.
The update is part of Meta’s broader push to make self-expression on Facebook more visual, playful, and interactive. With the new tools, users can transform ordinary photos and posts into shareable moments designed to spark reactions and conversations among friends.
At the center of the update is profile picture animation. Users can now bring their profile photos to life in seconds by applying preset animations such as waving, floating hearts, confetti bursts, or wearing a party hat. The idea is simple: instead of a static image, your profile can reflect your mood or mark a moment, whether it’s a celebration, a greeting, or just a bit of fun.
Meta says the feature works best with a clear photo of a single person facing the camera, with their face fully visible and unobstructed. Users can animate photos directly from their camera roll or select images they’ve already uploaded to Facebook. Once animated, the profile picture can be shared to the Feed and will appear on the user’s profile as a looping animation. Meta plans to expand the library of animation options over time, adding seasonal and event-based effects throughout the year.
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Beyond profile pictures, Meta is also expanding creative tools for Stories and Memories with a feature called Restyle. Restyle allows users to change the look and feel of photos using either preset visual styles or custom text prompts powered by Meta AI. Instead of simply posting an image as-is, users can reimagine it with a different aesthetic, mood, or backdrop.
Restyle offers a range of preset categories, including illustrated and anime-style looks, glowing or ethereal moods, lighting adjustments, color shifts, and background changes such as beaches or cityscapes. For users who want more control, Meta AI can respond to written prompts to transform an image in more specific ways. The feature is also integrated into Memories, with Facebook recommending older photos that users can restyle and reshare in Stories, giving old content a new visual life.
Text posts are getting a visual upgrade as well. Meta is gradually rolling out animated backgrounds for Feed text posts, allowing users to add motion and atmosphere to what they write. When creating a text post, users can tap the rainbow “A” icon to choose from a selection of still and animated backgrounds, including effects like ocean waves or falling leaves. Meta says seasonal backgrounds will be added in the future, making posts feel more timely and expressive.
Taken together, these features reflect Meta’s strategy of embedding AI into familiar social actions rather than presenting it as a separate tool. Instead of asking users to learn new workflows, Meta is layering generative AI into profile updates, Stories, Memories, and text posts – places where people already spend time expressing themselves.
The rollout also highlights how competitive the social media landscape has become. Platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have long leaned on visual effects and creative tools to drive engagement, especially among younger users. By introducing lightweight, easy-to-use AI features at Facebook’s massive scale, Meta is betting it can refresh the platform’s feel while keeping users active and engaged.
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Importantly, the new features are free to use. Like most of Meta’s AI-driven updates, the business value comes indirectly through increased engagement and time spent on the platform, which supports its advertising model. More animated profiles, restyled Stories, and eye-catching text posts mean more reasons for users to scroll, react, and share.
Meta has framed the update as a way to make Facebook feel more expressive and human, even as the underlying tools are powered by increasingly sophisticated AI systems. By focusing on simple animations, presets, and guided prompts, the company appears to be taking a cautious approach, balancing creativity with control as it rolls out these features more broadly.
For users, the change is straightforward: Facebook profiles, Stories, and posts are becoming more dynamic, visual, and customizable. For Meta, it’s another step toward making AI an invisible but central part of how people communicate online – one animated profile picture at a time.
