People who use the feature on the messaging app might notice something new when they post an update to their status
WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature to millions of devices, which makes sharing photos and videos easier than ever before. However, it’s not going to be on everyone’s phones just yet – with a handful of people getting early access.
In a post from X, the bosses behind WhatsApp showed off the new feature, which will allow you to spark conversations among friends and family using photos. In the example post, a couple posted to their WhatsApp Status with a box added over the top of the photo.
After writing a prompt, the interactive sticker includes an “Add Yours” icon. According to WhatsApp, this will “invite friends and family to respond with their own [photos]” in return.
Similar features already exist on other social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube. However, the feature isn’t widely available on all devices just yet, and testing is underway.
Lots of people piled into the X post’s comments with future suggestions to the platform’s Status space. One asked: “When are we getting music?”
Another added: “Can we get polls next WhatsApp?” A third put: “WhatsApp can you introduce schedule send messages please!”
WhatsApp Status allows users to share photos, videos, text and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. It works very similarly to other social media platforms with Stories like Snapchat or Instagram.
The few users with early access can use the content sticker to start an interactive and private chain of content. Every participant shares their own update that maintains both privacy and end-to-end encryption.
How to change your WhatsApp status:
You can use WhatsApp Status to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. You can choose who can see your status by adding them to your status audience or mentioning a specific person or group.
To start using the feature, go to the My Status tab in the bottom of your app. From here, you can add updates in the form of text, voice, photos and videos.
HD media isn’t supported for status updates. The quality of media, such as images, GIFs, videos, and pictures uploaded into WhatsApp Status may be lower than the original version.
There is a full guide available on the WhatsApp website here. It also explains how you can see who viewed your Status and what to do if you don’t want to get specific people’s status updates.
You can also change your Status privacy settings to share your Status with all your contacts or selected contacts only. If you share your status update to your Facebook story, your status update will use the existing story privacy settings that you’ve chosen on Facebook.
