The new WhatsApp build on TestFlight includes references to an upcoming change that will bring Status updates (which is the app’s version of Instagram’s Story format) to the Chats tab. Here are the details.
References hit at upcoming feature
Although WhatsApp Status hasn’t been as central to WhatsApp as Stories have been to other Meta products, it appears the company is working to give the feature a more central role within its messaging app.
A few weeks ago, WABetaInfo noted that the latest WhatsApp beta for Android hinted that the app would bring Status updates to the main Chat list view.
Now, the site reports that the latest WhatsApp build available on TestFlight also includes references to that, although the feature isn’t accessible to users yet.
If (or when, given that Meta is laying the groundwork on both platforms) WhatsApp makes this move, users will see the familiar top carousel with a list of Status updates from their contacts, much like users are used to in social apps such as Instagram.
One key difference, according to WABetaInfo, is that the Status update tray won’t be visible by default in the Chats tab. Instead, users will have to pull down from the top of the chat list to reveal it, much like how Stories work in Telegram.
Based on WABetaInfo’s findings, the interface looks extremely similar to the Stories carousel on Instagram, with the first option being a shortcut so users can publish their own Status updates, followed by Status updates from their contacts.
Here’s how the feature is going to work, according to WABetaInfo:
The tray in the navigation bar is designed to work in the same way as the one available in the Updates tab. It shows status updates ranked based on contact relevance, and the priority will be placed on the people users interact with most. So the most important updates will appear first in the list. This will ensure quicker access to the most relevant updates. At the end of the tray, users can find an entry point to view hidden status updates. These are status updates shared by those that have been muted by the user.
Also like on Instagram, WhatsApp’s Status updates disappear after 24 hours, and features several creative tools that allow users to add stickers, music, and other effects to their posts.
As is the case with most features spotted in WhatsApp’s beta versions, there’s no official release timeline. But with Meta now referencing it in both iOS and Android builds, it likely won’t be long before it is officially rolled out.
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