WhatsApp has announced some new features in its latest update, which include the introduction of Status Likes and Private Mentions. Users can now mention up to five contacts in their updates without notifying others, allowing only those mentioned to reshare the content. There’s also the new one-tap Like feature that lets users respond quickly to a friend’s story or status update.
Private Mentions function similarly to Instagram’s Close Friends feature, allowing users to share their statuses with a select group. When someone is privately mentioned, they receive a notification, while the mention itself remains hidden from the wider audience.
The Status Likes feature is also very similar to Instagram’s Like Button, where users can privately like a friend’s status or story with a green heart, visible only to the status owner and not displayed as a counter to others. Additionally, under the app’s Updates Tab, users can also find new Channels to follow and receive new updates.
WhatsApp has also updated video calls by introducing new filters and backgrounds, allowing for a more creative and personalised interaction during video conversations. These features are now starting to roll out, and will soon be available globally.
(Source: WhatsApp Press Release)
