WhatsApp is expanding the reach of its Status feature, allowing updates to be seen by contacts even if they aren’t saved in the user’s address book. The change aims to streamline connections and make sharing updates more accessible.
The messaging platform is currently rolling out a new Status feature, according to WABetaInfo. Status updates will now be visible to phone numbers that aren’t saved as contacts, provided there has been recent interaction between the users.
What’s Changing with the WhatsApp Update
- Status updates can now be shared with recently contacted numbers
- All that’s required is a recent message or call
- Users no longer need to save each other’s contacts
- Interaction processing occurs directly on the device, not on WhatsApp servers
- Unsaved contacts are identified with a tilde (~) and phone number
- Status updates can be hidden without blocking anyone
Users who don’t want recently contacted numbers to view their status can select “Only share with” in the privacy settings.
WhatsApp Plans Larger Status Change in Chat Area
In addition to the new reach rules for status updates, WhatsApp is also working on another major change surrounding the Status feature.
According to reports, status updates will be more prominently integrated into the chat area in the future, rather than existing exclusively in the separate “Updates” tab. The plan is for new status updates to appear directly in the chat overview, eliminating the need for users to navigate to a separate section to see what others have shared.
a horizontal status bar is being tested that could be displayed while scrolling through the Chats tab. The feature is still under development and is not yet available to all users. If WhatsApp implements the concept, access to status updates should be significantly faster and more centralized.
