How Beeper Handles Avatar Updates Across Chat Networks
TL;DR: Beeper relies on each chat network to update avatars, and the timing of these updates varies.
Below is a breakdown of how avatars update for different chat services.
Avatar Update Behavior by Chat Network
Chat Network |
Who Updates the Avatar? |
Update Timing & Conditions |
|---|---|---|
The Chat Network |
Updates weekly. Requires an incoming message after the week is up. Can take up to 4 hours to reflect after receiving a message, though some avatars may update immediately. Profile names always update immediately on message, and contact names update immediately when the phone detects the change. |
|
Telegram |
The Chat Network |
Updates immediately upon receiving a message. |
Google Messages |
The Chat Network |
Updates fairly quickly. While the network controls avatar updates, updating the Contacts app info will also update the avatar on the network. |
The Chat Network |
Updates immediately. Natively encrypted chats may behave differently (TBD). |
|
The Chat Network |
Updates immediately. |
|
Signal |
The Chat Network |
Updates hourly. Requires an incoming message after the hour is up to trigger the update. |
Discord |
The Chat Network |
Updates immediately. |
Slack |
The Chat Network |
Updates immediately. |
X (formerly Twitter) |
The Chat Network |
Update frequency TBD. |
Google Chat |
The Chat Network |
Update frequency TBD. |
The Chat Network |
Update frequency TBD. |
Key Takeaways
• Most chat networks handle their own avatar updates, with timing varying from immediate (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Slack) to periodic (e.g., WhatsApp, Signal).
• WhatsApp has the longest update delay, requiring a weekly refresh and an incoming message to trigger the update.
• Some update frequencies are still to be determined, including for X, Google Chat, and LinkedIn.