The new WhatsApp version on TestFlight contains references that Status updates (the app's version corresponding to Instagram's Story format) will be brought to the Chats tab. Here are the details.

Hints About the Upcoming Feature

Although WhatsApp Status does not play as central a role as Stories on other Meta products, it seems the company is working on giving this feature a more central role within its messaging application.

A few weeks ago, WABetaInfo indicated that the latest WhatsApp beta version for Android would bring the app's Status updates to the main Chat list view.

Now, the site reports that the latest WhatsApp version available on TestFlight also contains references to this, but the feature is not yet accessible to users.

If (or when, considering Meta is preparing the infrastructure on both platforms) WhatsApp takes this step, users will see a familiar top carousel featuring a list of Status updates from their contacts, just like they are used to in social apps like Instagram.

One main difference, according to WABetaInfo, is that the Status update panel will not be visible by default in the Chats tab. Instead, users will need to pull down from the top of the chat list, similar to how stories work on Telegram.

According to WABetaInfo's findings, the interface closely resembles the Story carousel on Instagram; the first option is a shortcut for users to publish their own Status updates, followed by Status updates from contacts.

Here’s how this feature will work, according to WABetaInfo:

The panel in the navigation bar is designed to function the same way as the one available in the Updates tab. Status updates are sorted by the importance of contacts, with priority given to the people users interact with the most. This way, the most important updates appear at the top of the list. This provides quicker access to the most relevant updates. At the end of the panel, users can find an entry point to view hidden status updates shared by muted users.

Also, like on Instagram, WhatsApp's Status updates disappear after 24 hours and include various creative tools that allow users to add stickers, music, and other effects to their posts.

As with most features observed in WhatsApp's beta versions, there is no official release timeline. However, with Meta referencing this in both iOS and Android versions, it is likely that the official launch will not take long.

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