WhatsApp Beta Introduces Instagram-Style Reply Bar for Status Updates on iOS and Android: Report

WhatsApp, once a straightforward messaging platform, has expanded its capabilities significantly under Meta’s ownership, evolving into a multifaceted app encompassing traits of a social media hub, a payment platform, and a business interface. The integration of features like status updates, channels, and more has aligned WhatsApp closely with Meta’s other social platforms. Latest reports indicate WhatsApp’s emulation of Instagram Stories by introducing a reply bar for status updates, signaling a step towards enhanced social interaction within the app on both Android and iOS devices.

As per insights from WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the messaging giant has initiated the rollout of a reply bar feature for status updates to beta testers on both Android and iOS platforms. Positioned at the bottom of status updates akin to Instagram Stories’ format, this reply bar simplifies the process of engaging with statuses. Presently, users can reply to a status by swiping up and typing a response using text or emojis. The introduction of a dedicated reply bar aims to streamline this interaction, allowing users to directly input their responses to status updates.

The new feature’s initial release is reportedly underway for selected beta testers via the WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.15.10.72 update accessible through the TestFlight app, and the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.26.3 update available on the Google Play Store. It is anticipated to expand its availability to a broader user base in the near future.

The WABetaInfo report included a screenshot of the feature, showing a reply bar at the bottom of a status update for quick interaction. The feature would eliminate the need to swipe up on status updates to send in a response. Visually, the reply bar looks near identical to the one present in Instagram stories.

Earlier this month, WhatsApp was spotted working on a feature that would allow users to share their WhatsApp statuses to Instagram. The messaging platform already lets users share WhatsApp statuses on Facebook. The options to share status updates on other Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram were seen listed together under the Status Privacy tab in WhatsApp settings.

WhatsApp is also said to be developing a feature that would allow searching for other users on the app by their username, thus eliminating the need to share phone numbers with strangers to communicate on the platform. This privacy-focussed Telegram-style search by username feature would help find users by their unique usernames on the app.