WhatsApp announces new status updates for its users

WhatsApp Status has received a number of updates to make it more attractive and appealing to users. One of the latest additions to the feature, introduced in 2017 as the company’s take on Snapchat Stories, is the ability to set voice notes as status updates.

WhatsApp announced the voice status on Tuesday, which enables users to record and share voice messages of up to 30 seconds as status updates. Users will get the option to record voice notes by tapping the microphone icon on the status screen. It will provide a more personal touch to status updates and works as a convenient option for those who prefer not to type or use graphics.

WhatsApp tested its voice status feature last month with its Android and iOS beta testers.

WhatsApp saw a significant traction in voice messages on its platform in the last couple of months. The Meta-owned messaging app in March said that users were sending an average of 7 billion voice messages daily.

Besides the voice status, the latest WhatsApp status updates include a “private audience selector” that lets users easily pick a privacy option per status to choose who can view their status updates. A new audience selector button appears on the status screen, letting users control the visibility of their status updates.

Before the audience selector option, users had to manually go to the privacy settings on WhatsApp to choose who could view their status.

In addition, WhatsApp has also broadened the availability of status reactions that were available to some users a few months back. This allows users to reply to any status updates by swiping up and tapping on one of eight emojis.

Similar to status reactions, WhatsApp has widened the availability of status profile rings to all users. These rings appear around your contact’s profile picture when they share a status update. Status profile rings will be visible in the chat lists, group participant lists and contact info.

Users also get link previews on their WhatsApp status updates. This will allow them to showcase a visual preview of their links to Instagram posts or YouTube videos that they put on their status.

The messaging app said that the updates have started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.