Message reactions to disappearing mode: All the upcoming WhatsApp features

• WhatsApp is working on a bunch of new features.
• The list includes multi-device support, disappearing mode and more.
• Here’s a look at all the upcoming WhatsApp features.

WhatsApp launched a bunch of major updates this year including voice and video calls from desktops, joinable missed group calls, and disappearing images and videos. It recently started rolling out the ability to transfer chats from iOS to Android devices for Samsung smartphones. WhatsApp is working on more features expected to be released soon.

WhatsApp tests feature before releasing them to users. Some of these unreleased features can be tested through WhatsApp’s beta program for Android and iOS users. Android users can sign up through this link while iOS users can download the TestFlight app to enrol into WhatsApp’s beta program.

Now let’s take a look at the upcoming WhatsApp features.

Message reactions

WhatsApp is planning to bring reactions to messages. This feature is similar to emoji reactions on Messenger, Instagram and Twitter. On WhatsApp too you will be able to react to messages with emoji. According to a screenshot by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp lets you react with any emoji you want. There’s no confirmation though if WhatsApp will restrict the reactions to only a few emojis or the entire catalogue. This feature is currently in testing and it’s expected to roll out soon.

Multi-device support

Multi-device support can be tested by WhatsApp beta users on Android and iOS. As the name suggests, this feature lets you use WhatsApp on up to four devices at once. The highlight of this feature is that you don’t need to have an active internet connection on the primary device like how you needed to for WhatsApp Web. You can try it out through the linked devices option on WhatsApp.

Disappearing mode

WhatsApp is working on a ‘disappearing mode’ for chats. This is an extension of disappearing messages that automatically delete messages from chats after seven days. The disappearing mode will enable this feature for all your chats on WhatsApp. So when you turn this on, messages from all your WhatsApp chats will disappear after the scheduled duration. This feature has been confirmed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp head Will Cathcart, and it will be available later this year.

90 days duration for disappearing messages

WhatsApp currently gives you only one option for disappearing messages and that’s seven days. It was spotted testing a 24-hour duration for messages to automatically disappear from chats. It is also working on adding a duration of 90 days for disappearing messages. This means that users will get two more timer options for messages to automatically disappear from chats once they enable the feature.

Redesigned chat bubbles

A visual change coming to WhatsApp is the redesign of chat bubbles. The redesign brings rounded chat bubbles with a new green colour. The new chat bubbles are also bigger than the old ones making the text stand out more. It’s visible to WhatsApp beta users on Android and iOS.

Status updates

WhatsApp could make it easier to view status updates without having to go to the status tab. It’s similar to how Twitter displayed Fleets. In this test, when you tap on the profile picture you will get two options to either view the photo or the status update. WhatsApp also displays a ring around the profile picture indicating that the contact has updated its status. This feature is currently under development and it’s not visible to beta testers yet.

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