On Tuesday, Facebook unveiled a suite of new AI-powered features aimed at giving users more playful ways to express themselves. The updates introduce animated profile pictures, photo restyling tools for Stories and Memories, and animated backgrounds for text posts. As Meta strives to keep its flagship app relevant with younger audiences, these innovations are likely intended to create a more personalized experience that resonates with Gen Z.

The new animated profile picture feature adds motion effects to static photos, making the subject appear to wave, form a heart shape, or don a virtual party hat. For optimal results, Facebook suggests using a clear, forward-facing photo of one person. Users can select images directly from their camera roll or from photos already on the platform. The company has also announced plans to introduce additional animation options later this year.

Facebook is also upgrading its Stories—ephemeral photo and video posts—and Memories—which resurface content from past years—with a tool called “Restyle.” This feature uses Meta AI to creatively reinterpret user-uploaded images. After adding a photo to Stories or choosing a Memory to share, users can tap Restyle and either type a text prompt or pick from preset themes like anime, illustrated, glowy, or ethereal. The tool also offers controls to adjust mood, lighting, and colors, and allows for backdrop swaps to settings like a beach or cityscape.

To make text posts more dynamic, Facebook is gradually rolling out animated backgrounds. By clicking a new rainbow “A” icon, users can select from a range of static and animated scenes—such as falling leaves or rolling ocean waves—to help their posts capture attention in the feed. Seasonal backgrounds are slated for release soon.

With approximately 2.1 billion daily active users, Facebook continues to dominate the social media landscape. Yet, the platform has faced challenges in attracting and retaining younger users in recent years. In response, it has turned to new technologies like AI and implemented a more youth-oriented redesign. Other recent changes include a friends-only feed and the option to use unique display names within Groups, similar to Reddit’s community username system. Additionally, Facebook is trying to revive its “poke” feature—a virtual nudge to get another user’s attention—by adding a dedicated button on profiles that sends a notification to the recipient.