WhatsApp Enhances User Interaction with New Status Reply Feature and Expands Integration with Instagram

WhatsApp, originally a straightforward messaging app and now under Meta's umbrella, has evolved significantly, adopting a myriad of features that align it more closely with social media platforms. This includes the app's transformation into a tool for payments, business communications, and other functionalities. With the addition of status updates, channels, and more, WhatsApp shares several similarities with Meta's other products. The latest development signals that WhatsApp is taking another page from the Instagram playbook by introducing a reply bar for status updates available on both Android and iOS systems.

The new functionality was noted by WABetaInfo, an online platform that tracks WhatsApp's updates. They reported that WhatsApp has rolled out a reply bar for status updates on both its Android and iOS beta versions to some beta users. This feature, similar to Instagram Stories' response bar, is located at the bottom of the status update screen and simplifies the process of responding to statuses. At present, users engage with statuses by swiping up to reply with text or emoticons. However, the introduction of this dedicated reply bar allows for immediate typing and sending of responses.

This function is gradually being made accessible to select groups participating in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.15.10.72 via the TestFlight app and the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.26.3, found on the Google Play Store. A screenshot included in the WABetaInfo report illustrated the new reply bar at the foot of a status, enabling a swift reply without the need to swipe up. The design of the reply bar is very much akin to its counterpart in Instagram stories.

WhatsApp isn't stopping there. Earlier this month, the app was found to be experimenting with a feature that would facilitate sharing WhatsApp statuses directly to Instagram, building upon the existing option to share statuses to Facebook. This suggests a further blending of features across Meta platforms, as noticed in the WhatsApp settings under the Status Privacy tab, where Facebook and Instagram sharing options were listed together.

In parallel, WhatsApp is working on a privacy-centric feature that draws inspiration from Telegram, allowing users to locate and communicate with others by using unique usernames rather than sharing phone numbers. This planned feature is poised to enhance privacy by providing the option to identify other users on the platform through their chosen usernames.