WhatsApp is making some new changes to its Status feature, adding more ways for users to connect with their contacts. According to WABetaInfo, one key update is the ability to mention contacts in Status updates. This feature, first seen in March, is now rolling out to some beta users on Android. Soon, it will be available to more users worldwide.
How the New Whatsapp Status Mentions Feature Works
The new Status mentions feature allows users to tag others in their Status updates. This is similar to tagging friends in posts on social media platforms like Instagram. To mention someone, you click the ‘@’ button that now shows up next to the caption bar when sharing a photo or video via Status. After you add a mention, the contact will get a notification letting them know they were tagged.
Beta Testing on Android
The team at WABetaInfo reports that Android beta users, who are running WhatsApp version 2.24.20.3, can try out this new tool. Beta testers can experiment with this feature before its full release, helping WhatsApp fix any problems before it’s made available to everyone.
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Resharing Status Mentions
When a contact is tagged in your Status, they have the option to reshare it. A reshare button appears next to the reply box when they are viewing the Status where they were mentioned. This makes it simple to spread the word by sharing it with their audience.
However, one key difference from platforms like Instagram is that the original poster’s name remains hidden when the tagged contact reshares the Status. This adds a layer of privacy for the person who created the Status.
Privacy Details
Privacy plays a crucial role in this update. Even though a contact is mentioned in your Status, their identity will remain hidden from anyone else viewing it. Only the individual who is tagged will be notified of the mention, and no other viewers will have visibility of that information. This guarantees that the privacy of both parties remains protected and uncompromised.
One significant aspect of the update is that tagged contacts will be able to view the Status in which they are mentioned. This applies even if they are restricted from seeing your other Status updates through your privacy settings. In this case, being tagged overrides the existing restrictions for that specific update.
Although WhatsApp has not confirmed an official release date for the Status update mentions, it is anticipated to be available shortly after the beta testing phase. Users eager to experience this feature early can enrol in WhatsApp’s beta program for access.
