WhatsApp users have something new to look forward to as the popular messaging app, owned by Meta, has begun testing an Instagram-like feature. This latest update allows users to mention specific contacts in their status updates, offering a more personalised way to share content. Currently available to beta testers, the feature simplifies the process of tagging friends when posting photos and videos through WhatsApp’s status.
To mention a contact, users will now notice a dedicated button in the caption bar when creating a status update. Before the status is shared, users can select who they want to tag, making it easier to involve specific people. Once tagged, the contact will receive a notification letting them know they’ve been mentioned in the update, along with a message in their chat that highlights the mention.
This new functionality was first spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.20.3, available on the Google Play Store. WABetaInfo, a trusted source for WhatsApp updates, highlighted the addition, noting that it allows users to directly notify specific contacts about important updates without broadcasting them to everyone.
An interesting detail is that these mentions remain private. While other viewers of the status won’t see who has been tagged, only the mentioned contact will receive the notification. This ensures that interactions between the creator and the mentioned individual are discreet, providing an additional layer of privacy.
Regardless of the privacy settings of the person sharing the status, the mentioned contact will always be able to view the update. Even if they are excluded from other updates due to privacy settings, they’ll still be notified of the one where they were tagged. This guarantees that important mentions are never missed.
The report also noted that those mentioned in a status update can reshare the content with their own contacts through a new reshare option. While they can extend the reach of the update, the identity of the original creator remains hidden, ensuring that reshared statuses don’t expose the original poster. This new feature aims to add more flexibility and control for users, offering a private, yet effective way to communicate directly with specific people in status updates.
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