WhatsApp Introduces Instagram-Style Reply Bar for Status Updates in Beta Testing: Know Another Upcoming Feature

WhatsApp began as a simple messaging network, but the app, now owned by Meta, has added numerous features over the years, bringing it closer to being a social media platform, a payments app, a business portal, and much more. WhatsApp looks a lot like Meta's other social platforms, including features like status updates, channels, and more. The messaging app is now purportedly emulating another Instagram Stories feature by introducing a reply bar for status updates on both Android and iOS smartphones.

WhatsApp has launched a reply bar feature for status updates to Android and iOS beta testers

WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo reports that the popular messaging network has launched a reply bar feature for status updates to Android and iOS beta testers. The reply box, which appears at the bottom of status updates, similar to the one on Instagram Stories, is intended to make responding to status updates easier. Currently, WhatsApp users can respond to a status update by swiping up and selecting a text message or emoji. They could, however, directly put in their responses to status updates using a particular reply bar.

This feature is being rolled out to some beta testers as part of the WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.15.10.72 update from the TestFlight app and the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.26.3 update from the Google Play Store. It will be available to more users in the following days.

A screenshot of the feature was included in the WABetaInfo report.

A screenshot of the feature was included in the WABetaInfo report, displaying a reply bar at the bottom of a status update, allowing quick engagement. The functionality would remove the requirement to swipe up on status updates to respond. The reply bar appears nearly identical to the one found in Instagram stories.

WhatsApp was discovered working on a feature allowing users to transfer their WhatsApp statuses to Instagram

Earlier this month, WhatsApp was discovered working on a feature that would allow users to transfer their WhatsApp statuses to Instagram. Users can currently share WhatsApp status updates on Facebook using the chat platform. Under the Status Privacy page in WhatsApp settings, the options to share status updates on other Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, were displayed together.

WhatsApp also claims to be working on a feature allowing users to search for other users by username, removing the need to reveal phone numbers with strangers to chat on the platform.

This privacy-focused Telegram-style search by username functionality would allow individuals to be found on the app by their unique usernames.