Facebook users can now use GIF animations in comment section

Image via Facebook

To celebrate the GIF’s (Graphic Interchange Format) 30th anniversary, Facebook is now letting users apply the venerable file graphic in its comment section.

Starting June 15, Facebook commenters can now pick from a vast library of GIFs to communicate with their friends.

Prior to the tweak, Facebook only allowed GIF usage through status updates, The Verge reported.

Aside from making GIFs more accessible, a new “Gif Party” feature also offers statistics on overall GIF usage.

According to the numbers, over 13 billion GIFs were sent via Facebook Messenger last year, with the numbers expected to rise due to its ever-growing popularity.

Meanwhile, last Jan. 1 marked the highest usage rate of GIFs, as people exchanged New Year greetings through the graphic imagery.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra