A360
Key Takeaways✦ Atlas AI
01
Status updates moving to Chats tab.
02
Feature requires pull-down to reveal.
03
Prioritizes relevant contact updates.
Atlas AI
WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta Platforms, is preparing a redesign that would bring Status updates into the main Chats tab, based on references spotted in recent beta builds for both iOS and Android.
The change was identified in the latest TestFlight build for iOS and had previously appeared in an Android beta. The goal, as described by the feature’s design, is to make Status more prominent and encourage more use of a format that works similarly to Instagram Stories.
Under the planned layout, a carousel of Status updates would sit at the top of the chat list. However, it would not appear automatically when users open Chats. Instead, users would need to pull down from the top of the chat list to reveal the tray, a gesture-based approach described as similar to how Telegram presents Stories.
The carousel is expected to resemble the Stories-style interface used on Instagram. It would include a shortcut that lets users post their own Status update, followed by updates from contacts. The ordering would be driven by “contact relevance,” with the tray prioritizing people a user interacts with most often so that the most pertinent updates appear first.
The design also includes an entry point for viewing Status updates that are hidden or muted. As with other platforms using this format, WhatsApp Status updates are set to remain available for 24 hours. The feature is also expected to support creative tools including stickers and music.
No official release date has been announced. Still, the appearance of the feature in beta versions on both major mobile operating systems indicates that WhatsApp is actively testing the experience across its core platforms ahead of a wider release.
