WhatsApp will soon feature a status mode similar to Instagram – find out what the new mode is
WhatsApp or Instagram—this debate continues to grow as Meta offers similar features on both platforms, making them feel almost like twins. Do you think this rumor is true?
Over the past 12 months, WhatsApp has borrowed several new features from Instagram, and according to a recent report, many more updates could soon be added to the messaging app. The platform already offers status updates for users, and an upcoming update may introduce a ‘Close Friends’ option, allowing updates to be shared only with selected contacts.
For the first time, advertisements are also appearing in WhatsApp’s Updates section, and Meta seems to be working on bringing similar features across its other products as well.
WhatsApp will soon feature a status mode similar to Instagram – find out what the new mode is
For the first time, advertisements are also appearing in WhatsApp’s Updates section, marking a noticeable shift in how the platform operates. Meta seems to be exploring new ways to monetize WhatsApp while keeping personal chats free from ads.
At the same time, Meta continues to work on aligning features across its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, to create a more unified user experience. While these changes may improve functionality for some users, others are closely watching how privacy and user experience are handled as WhatsApp evolves.
WhatsApp’s Close Friends Status Feature: What You Need to Know
According to a report by Rumor, the new feature has been spotted in WhatsApp’s beta version for Android. It is still under development and is expected to be available to beta testers soon.
Feature Spotted in WhatsApp Beta for Android
According to a report by Rumor, the new feature has been spotted in WhatsApp’s beta version for Android. It is still in the development stage but is expected to roll out to beta testers in the near future.
How the ‘Close Friends’ Feature May Work
The new ‘Close Friends’ feature is anticipated to work in a similar way as the feature in Instagram, allowing users the ability to labeled select Contacts whom they would like to share their status updates with (these updates will not be viewed by others).
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In addition to giving users the ability to add certain Contacts as Close Friends, WhatsApp will provide users with an option on their messaging app to select “Who Can See My Status Update,” allowing users the opportunity to select a much broader range of Contacts including: My Contacts, My Contacts Except … , Only Share With, and Close Friends. By adding these additional selection options for viewing user status updates, WhatsApp will provide users with more control over who has access to their updates.
Visual Indicator for Close Friends Status
Similar to Instagram’s close friends’ stories, status updates for Close Friends on WhatsApp will have a different colored ring, providing users with a visual indicator that the status update is private, not viewed by everyone.
WhatsApp Entering a New Phase Under Meta
Under Meta’s ownership, WhatsApp seems to be moving forward into the next stage of evolution that would likely include AI tools, advertisements and possibly premium tools as part of future updates. There was also recently an article about Meta looking at getting both Instagram and WhatsApp to offer premium paid versions.link ….
This news indicates that WhatsApp could enhance many of the tools currently offered to be able to impact user experience in many different ways – though not all changes may be positively received by the millions of users that currently use WhatsApp.
Unlike the recent AI-focused upgrades, WhatsApp may now shift its attention toward more practical and user-friendly features, with According to Rumor, this statement is sharing detailed insights about these developments. The premium version of WhatsApp is expected to include features such as exclusive stickers, custom app themes, the ability to set chat-specific ringtones, and several other added options.
For Instagram users, Meta may also introduce new tools, such as the ability to see which followers are not following you back, or view someone’s story without notifying them that it has been seen.
Final Notes
As WhatsApp continues to change and grow with changes brought about by Meta (its new owner), we can see that their goal is to create an integrated platform/apparatus out of the content already present (Instagram’s close friends updates and added flexibility). In conjunction with these changes, ads have begun to appear, which indicates a shift away from WhatsApp’s long-standing policy of being an advertisement-free brand.
Users may be able to take advantage of new features and increased flexibility due to the introduction of additional opportunities for users of WhatsApp; however, there are those users who may find this increase in features to lead to an increase in complexity, but not necessarily an increase of security. The success of WhatsApp will ultimately depend on how well Meta balances innovation with user trust when they begin to implement/introduce these changes.
