Following in the footsteps of Snapchat and Instagram, Facebook-owned WhatsApp today announced the launch of "Status," a new feature that's designed to let users share videos, photos, and GIFs that expire each day.

The Status addition to WhatsApp is essentially identical to the "Stories" feature in Instagram and Snapchat, both of which allow users to share daily life updates with friends and family that expire after 24 hours.

With WhatsApp Status, WhatsApp users can use the in-app camera to share photos or videos that can be annotated with emoji, text snippets, and drawings. Status updates can be shared with all contacts, rather than just individuals or specific groups, but there are also options to choose who is able to see what.

whatsappstatus
Through the new Status tab, WhatsApp users can view all of the updates that their address book contacts have shared on the app and reply privately to updates. All Status updates expire after a 24 hour period.

WhatsApp is launching Status to celebrate its eighth anniversary. The new feature is rolling out to WhatsApp users starting today and should be available soon for all iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone users.

WhatsApp can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Facebook, WhatsApp

Top Rated Comments

sguser Avatar
sguser
94 months ago
This feature will come to iMessage in about four years time
Better, never. I don't need that crap in iMessage
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
LordQ
94 months ago
Die Facebook, just die!!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
dannys1
94 months ago
Brilliant, so thats Snapchat, Instagram and now Whatapps at the narcissists can post photos of everything they do all day...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DhobiWanKenobi Avatar
DhobiWanKenobi
94 months ago
I'm a heavy WhatsApp user and I'd rather they didn't add these kind of features. Guess it's understandable they want to grab some of snapchats usage, I just thought whatsapp was considered a little more 'grown up'.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
poppy10 Avatar
poppy10
94 months ago
This feature will come to iMessage in about four years time
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rudychidiac Avatar
rudychidiac
94 months ago
I'm going to block everyone who posts such status photos...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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