WhatsApp on Tuesday announced new status features designed to make it easier for users to express themselves and connect with others.
Status updates, which disappear 24 hours after they are posted, are a popular way for users to share personalized updates with friends and close contacts, and can include photos, videos, GIFs, text, and more. Like face-to-face conversations and calls, status updates are protected by end-to-end encryption.
WhatsApp today announced in a blog post that it has added a number of new features to Status and has been testing some of them for some time, such as: B. Voice status functionality.
WhatsApp talks about the first feature, which is Private Targeting: “Every status you post may not always be appropriate for all of your contacts. That's why we give you the ability to update your privacy preferences for each status, so you can choose who can see your status each time. Your last audience selection will be saved and used as the default audience for your next case.
As for the audio status feature, users can record audio messages up to 30 seconds long and share them on their WhatsApp status. According to the company, Voice Status can be used to send updates of a more personalized nature, especially when users prefer speaking rather than typing.
Also new are status reactions, which WhatsApp says allow users to quickly and easily respond to status updates from close friends and contacts.
WhatsApp said the feature was the first one that users requested after introducing the interactive feature last year. Users can quickly respond to status updates by swiping up and then tapping one of the eight emojis. Of course, users can respond to status updates via SMS, voicemail, stickers, etc.
Among the features that WhatsApp has been testing for some time are new profile update status rings to indicate there are new updates, which appear around a contact's photo when a new status update is posted and can be accessed directly by clicking on the image. These episodes will appear in chat lists, group member lists, and contact information.
WhatsApp is also testing a status link preview feature that will allow users to see a visual preview of link content in a post status update, similar to sharing a link in a screenshot. According to WhatsApp, the visual preview improves status and gives contacts a better idea of the link before they click on it.
WhatsApp said it has started rolling out the new feature to users around the world and it will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Currently, users can download WhatsApp for Android from the Google Play Store and WhatsApp for iOS from the Apple App Store. The application can also be downloaded on mobile and other desktop devices via the official website.