In a recent update, WhatsApp is integrating a visual feature from its Meta-sibling Instagram, specifically borrowing from the Stories feature. The change aims to enhance the user experience when responding to status updates from contacts, as first reported by WABetaInfo testers.
On both iOS and Android, WhatsApp now features a dedicated Updates tab where users can post ephemeral status updates and view long-term updates from Channels they follow. While long-term updates are a recent addition, ephemeral status updates have been a staple for many years, allowing users to effortlessly share links, text, images, and videos with multiple contacts without the need for manual forwarding. Viewers of these status updates can respond by swiping up to use emojis or by sending a full message.
Notably, users who have updated to WhatsApp beta version 2.2.26.3 on Android have observed a new Reply bar consistently displayed at the bottom of the screen when viewing status updates. This change replaces the previous swipe-up gesture for initiating a reply, aligning WhatsApp more closely with Instagram Stories, where a similar reply bar is perpetually visible. The same alteration has been noticed in the iOS version (v23.15.10.72) among beta testers.
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The implications of this change raise questions about the placement of emoji reactions. If Meta opts for a unified user interface between Instagram and WhatsApp, it is anticipated that emojis will appear as soon as users tap the Reply bar. This beta version for Android also introduces other significant changes to the status updates feature, including support for HD images and video, as reported last week.
Prior to this, developers at WhatsApp were seen working on a feature allowing users to share their WhatsApp status updates directly as Instagram Stories with a single tap. This development could signal the potential integration of a larger suite of creative tools and stickers from Instagram into WhatsApp in the future. Until such features reach stable channels, WhatsApp status updates shared by beta testers on Instagram might appear somewhat incongruent amidst the polished Stories content.