WhatsApp Status, the feature introduced in 2017 as the company's take on Snapchat Stories, has received a number of updates to make it more appealing and appealing to users. One of the latest additions is the ability to set voice notes as status updates.
On Tuesday, WhatsApp announced Voice Status, which allows users to record and share voice messages of up to 30 seconds as status updates. Users have the ability to record voice notes by tapping the microphone icon on the status screen. It gives a more personal touch to status updates and works as a handy option for those who prefer not to type or use images. Last month, WhatsApp tested its voice status feature with its Android and iOS beta testers.
The voice status comes months after WhatsApp saw significant traction in voice messages on its platform. Meta's messaging app said in March that its users send an average of 7 billion voice messages every day.
The arrival of voice notes on WhatsApp status updates reminds us of the Cappuccino app, which allows users to share short, intimate audio stories with friends.
In addition to voice status, WhatsApp's latest status updates include a "private audience selector" that allows users to easily select a per-status privacy option to choose who can see their status updates. A new audience selection button appears on the status screen - it opens a menu that allows users to control the visibility of their status updates. The latest audience selection is saved and used as the default for the next status update, the messaging app said in a blog post.
Prior to audience selection, users had to manually access WhatsApp's privacy settings to choose who could see their status.
WhatsApp has also expanded the availability of status reactions which were available to some users a few months ago. Users can quickly respond to any status update by swiping and tapping on one of eight emojis. Similar to Status Responses, WhatsApp has extended the availability of Status Profile Rings to all users, after making them available to some users in the recent past. These rings appear around your contact's profile picture when they share a status update - it works a bit like Instagram. Status profile rings are visible in chat lists, group member lists, and contact information.
Users also get link previews on their WhatsApp status updates. This allows them to show a visual preview of their links to the Instagram posts or YouTube videos they post on their status. The updates have started rolling out to users around the world and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks, according to the messaging app.
Last month, WhatsApp released its native macOS client in public beta. The app also rolled out its official proxy support for global users a few weeks ago to help people communicate when their internet connection limits connectivity with WhatsApp.