the new WhatsApp The TestFlight build includes references to an upcoming change that will bring status updates (which is the app’s version of the Instagram Story format) to the Chats tab. Here are the details.
References included in next feature
Although WhatsApp Status hasn’t been as central to WhatsApp as Stories have been for 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 beta version of WhatsApp for Android hinted that the app would bring status updates to the main chat list view.
Now, the site reports that the latest version of WhatsApp available on TestFlight also includes references to that, although users cannot access the feature yet.
If (or when, since 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 what users are used to on social apps like Instagram.
A key difference, according to WABetaInfois that the status update tray will not be visible by default in the Chats tab. Instead, users will have to scroll down from the top of the chat list to reveal it, much like how Stories work on Telegram.
based on WABetaInfoBased on the findings, the interface looks extremely similar to the Stories carousel on Instagram, with the first option being a shortcut so users can post their own status updates, followed by their contacts’ status updates.
This is how the feature will work, according to WABetaInfo:
The tray in the navigation bar is designed to function in the same way as the one available in the Updates tab. Show status updates ranked by contact relevance, and priority will be given to the people users interact with the most. This way, the most important updates will appear first in the list. This will ensure faster access to the most relevant updates. At the bottom of the tray, users can find an entry point to view hidden status updates. These are status updates shared by those who have been muted by the user.
Also like Instagram, WhatsApp 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 beta versions of WhatsApp, there is no official release schedule. But now that Meta references it in iOS and Android versions, it probably won’t be long before it’s officially released.
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