WhatsApp to level up its status updates with new feature

WhatsApp is levelling up its interface by introducing a brand-new feature to its status updates which it is currently testing with its beta testers in its new 2.24.20.3 update through the Google Play Beta Program.

According to the WABetaInfo, the new feature enables users of the Meta-owned instant messaging app to mention contacts in their status updates, with the help of a button located within the caption bar.

Once a contact is mentioned, they receive a notification via a message in their chat with the user, informing them that they've been mentioned in a status update.

It's important to note that these mentions are private which means that other viewers of the status update will not be able to see who has been mentioned in the status update. Only the mentioned contact will receive the notification and the message in their chat, WABetaInfo reported.

Mentioned contacts will always receive the status update regardless of the sender's privacy settings.

Even if the mentioned contact is excluded from viewing other status updates due to specific privacy configurations, they will still be able to view the status update in which they were mentioned so that they never miss out on any important updates they are mentioned in.

It's worth noting that mentioned contacts can also reshare the status update with their own audience through a new reshare button within the status screen.

However, in this case, the identity of the original creator remains private and viewers of the reshared status will not be able to directly reach out to the original creator.

WhatsApp's new feature is currently available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it will be rolled out to even more people over the coming weeks.