WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature that lets users react to status updates with eight emoji options. The update began as a beta on Android, giving a preview to early testers before a wider release.
In this system, status updates—not just text but also photos, videos, and GIFs—can be viewed by friends and contacts for a 24 hour window. After publication, the content remains end-to-end encrypted, preserving privacy while still allowing quick reactions.
To view a status update, a user enters the Status tab and taps the profile of the person who posted the content they want to see.
Replies are enabled by tapping Reply while viewing the update. The reply can include a short message, an emoji reaction, a voice note, an attachment, or an image, providing a quick way to respond without leaving the Status feed.
WhatsApp has been testing this new reaction format for several days. The news surfaced through WABetaInfo, which reported that Meta’s messaging app was refining its reaction capabilities for Android during a mid‑July testing period. The observed build showcased eight distinct reactions, including a love face, a smile with tears, surprise, sadness, gratitude, applause, a party icon, and the 100-point symbol.
Subsequent updates to the beta program, delivered via Google Play, introduced a newer version labeled 2.22.17.24 and made it available to testers of builds 2.22.17.21, 2.22.17.22, and 2.22.17.23. In these builds, Android users gained the option to quickly respond to a contact’s status with one of the eight preselected emoji reactions.
At this stage, it remains unclear when WhatsApp plans to finalize the feature for all users or whether the rollout will be limited to Android first, with iOS support following later. The company has not issued a timetable for a broad global release beyond the beta program, so availability may vary by platform and region.
WhatsApp currently supports using the full emoji set available within the app for reactions to both private messages and group chats, and the new status reactions are positioned as an additional quick‑response tool in the same ecosystem. This enhancement aligns with user expectations for faster, more expressive interactions within conversations and status updates, while keeping the underlying encryption and privacy guarantees intact.