WhatsApp Adds Collages, Photo Stickers to Its Status Feature; Username Picker Spotted in Development on iOS

WhatsApp launched a new set of features for Status updates on Thursday. The Meta-owned instant messaging platform now allows users to post collages, music and new stickers to their Status updates. With the latest update, WhatsApp's Status feature works much like Stories on Facebook and Instagram. In addition to enhancing status updates, WhatsApp is said to be working on a new privacy feature that would let each user choose a unique username.

WhatsApp Status New Features

Meta announced new features for its WhatsApp Status feature via a blog post. The messaging app is rolling out four new Status tools, offering fresh ways to share updates using collages, music, and stickers. WhatsApp's new “Layout” feature allows users to share collaged photos as status updates. This feature works similarly to Instagram's Stories.

There is a new music feature that enables users to share a song as a status or turn that song into a music sticker and add it to a separate status post. Since March, users can add 15-second music clips to photo statuses or 60-second to video statuses. With the latest update, these clips can become stickers or be shared as standalone updates.

WhatsApp has also brought Photo Stickers, which will enable users to turn a photo into a sticker and add it to their status. Users can pick a photo and use the new "Add Yours" sticker feature to start a conversation. Friends can reply with their own status and hear what their community has to say as well.

Meta confirmed that new status features will start rolling out soon and will be available to everyone on WhatsApp in the coming months. The Status updates are assured to be end-to-end encrypted and visible only to the saved contacts of users.

WhatsApp tests username Feature

Meanwhile, as reported by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp was found developing a new feature that allows users to choose a username as an alternative to sharing phone numbers for starting conversations. This functionality could allow users to enter a unique username in a future update. It was spotted in development on WhatsApp beta 25.17.10.70 for iOS smartphones and is currently available on the TestFlight app.

Usernames can comprise alphanumeric characters and special characters. It should not begin with "www." or end with a domain like ".com" or ".net". The character length could be set between 3 and 30 characters. Once a username is set, it will be visible to others who search for it, allowing them to initiate chats without needing the user's phone number. However, existing contacts who have a phone number saved will continue to see the number. This feature aims to enhance user privacy.