WhatsApp follows Facebook’s lead to launch surprise new feature

WhatsApp have rolled out an update to their Status feature, which lets users write text on a colourful image background.

WhatsApp Status debuted as a text-only feature, but has grown to include photos and videos.

The latest update lets users choose a font, a background colour and also add in hyperlinks.

The new WhatsApp feature was revealed by VentureBeat, and follows on from a recent status update that Facebook rolled out. 

The world’s biggest social network first started testing colourful statuses back in December 2016, before rolling the feature out in March 2017.

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WhatsApp began testing the colourful statuses earlier this month before releasing it to all users recently.

The feature is specifically for WhatsApp’s Snapchat-like Status feature, and is different from the old-school text status that has been re-introduced.

The statuses disappear after 24 hours, and the update puts WhatsApp Status on an even keel with Snapchat Stories.

The latter recently allowed users link out from a Story.

WhatsApp Status now has 250 million daily users, making it even more popular than all of Snapchat.

Status updates can also now been seen by WhatsApp web users, opening the feature up for even more growth.

WhatsApp recently announced that it had passed one billion daily active users.

The hugely-successful chat app was originally launched in 2009 by ex-Yahoo! employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum.

The service has gone from strength to strength, especially since the Facebook acquisition in 2014.

WhatsApp also confirmed that 55 billion messages and 4.5 billion photos were shared using the service each day.

Publishing its latest statistics, WhatsApp announced in a blog post: “Just last year, we shared that one billion people around the world use WhatsApp every month.

“Today, we are excited and proud to share that one billion people around the world use WhatsApp every day to stay in touch with their family and friends.

“Whether it’s sharing personalised photos and videos, connecting through video calling, or keeping friends updated throughout the day with Status, communicating on WhatsApp has never been easier or more personal.

“We are humbled that so many people are using these new features to connect with one another in their own special way.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we’re committed more than ever to bringing you more useful features to enjoy, while delivering the reliability, simplicity, and security you expect with WhatsApp. Thank you for your continued support.”


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