WhatsApp is introducing a significant update this week, reimagining a familiar feature known as About. Longtime users might recall an earlier version of this feature from the app’s inception.
The reintroduction of About is aimed at providing users with a quick and easy way to share updates about their lives, as per WhatsApp. The Meta-owned company stated, “Today we’re reintroducing and enhancing About, making it more visible, timely, and user-friendly.”
So, what can users expect from the new About feature and when will it be available on their devices? This feature is designed for moments when users want to share life updates. By using a brief phrase and an emoji, users can communicate why they are unavailable to chat or what they want to discuss.
The About status will be prominently displayed at the top of the chat window, ensuring easy visibility for others. WhatsApp explained, “About will now be more prominently featured at the top of 1-1 chats and on your profile.”
Users can also respond directly to someone’s About by tapping on it in a chat. The About status will expire after one day, but users have the option to make it disappear sooner or stay longer by adjusting the timer in Settings under ‘Set About.’
For those concerned about privacy, users have control over who can view their About status. In the privacy settings, users can choose to make it visible only to their contacts or expand visibility more broadly.
WhatsApp has announced that the updated About feature will be gradually released to all mobile users throughout this week.