Status is a popular way to share updates with friends and close contacts on WhatsApp. They disappear in 24 hours and may include photos, videos, GIFs, text, and more. Just like your personal chats and calls, your WhatsApp status is protected by end-to-end encryption so you can share privately and securely.
But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Whatsapp has added a set of new features to the Status feature on WhatsApp that make it easier to express yourself and connect with others. These new features make it even more enticing to invest in a smartphone that has Whatsapp capabilities. Fortunately, there are a range of inexpensive and affordable mobile phones with Whatsapp capabilities available in South Africa
Here’s what’s new on WhatsApp Status.
Private audience selector
Every status you share may not always be right for all of your contacts. This new feature provides you with the flexibility to update your privacy settings per status so you can choose who views your status each time you update it. Your most recent audience selection will be saved and used as the default for your next status.
Voice status
Whatsapp is introducing the ability to record and share voice messages up to 30 seconds on WhatsApp status. Voice status can be used for sending more personal updates, especially if you feel more comfortable expressing yourself by talking rather than typing.
Status reactions
The app will also add status reactions to provide a quick and easy way to respond to status updates from friends and close contacts. This was the #1 feature users wanted, following the launch of Reactions last year. You can now quickly reply to any status by swiping up and tapping on one of eight emojis. You can of course still reply to a status with text, voice messages, stickers and more.
Status profile rings for new updates
With the new status profile ring, you’ll never miss a status from a loved one. This ring will be present around your contact’s profile picture whenever they share a status update. It will be visible in the chat lists, group participant lists, and contact info.
Link previews on status
When you post a link on your status, you’ll automatically see a visual preview of the link content, just like when you send a message. Visual previews make your statuses look better, and also give your contacts a better idea of what the link is before they click.
These updates have started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
