This just in- well, not really ‘just in’, but Meta recently announced that it’s adding several new features to WhatsApp status, which would allow users to post disappearing pictures and other media. Once these new features roll out over the next few weeks, users will be able to react to others’ posts with an emoji, limit who can see their status, and post voice messages.
What’s Up with This App?
According to their official post, the status emoji reactions work similarly to how they do on Instagram; when you swipe up on the post, you get to choose one from the eight currently available options (😍,😂,😮,😥,🙏,👏,🎉, and 💯).
According to one of WhatsApp’s blog posts, emojis, supposedly, are the #1 requested feature after it launched the ability to react to messages last year. Others would say that its Private Audience Selector is the most useful add-on to date. The option lets users set who can see their statuses, with the option to also show it to everyone, hide it from certain contacts, or show it to only specific people.
According to Meta, the options you pick will be the default for the next status you post, so unless you plan on regularly changing statuses, do be mindful about the last one you set, but this is mainly to maintain coherence and cadence. Fortunately, you’ll be able to change this without affecting the visibility of your past statuses.
Other features are more quality-of-life updates, rather than complete novelty additions. Statuses that include links will also be more visually appealing – Meta says there’ll now be previews for the site or page that the link will take you to. Meanwhile, WhatsApp’s also trying to make it clearer when people post a status by adding a ring around their profile picture within the chat lists, group participant lists, and contact info screens.
The Wrap
On paper, these sound like great additions, but the real question is will people really use them? The thing with ‘most requested’ features, especially on social platforms is that once they do get dropped, they eventually lose all the hype shortly after release. Despite being a highly requested feature, personal reports outline how not anyone from their connections has actually used the feature, and most of these originate from the US. If you’re a big fan of both WhatsApp and Social Media statuses, then this is something to consider.
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