In the realm of WhatsApp features, Stories may not top the usage charts, yet Meta’s adoption of Snapchat’s ephemeral photo and video posts is about to receive a noteworthy update.
Recently, the beta version of WhatsApp for Android introduced a revamped design for the Updates tab, where users can access unseen Stories.
This update showcases unseen Stories, or Status Updates, with larger thumbnails at the tab’s top, along with a preview of the first one, minimizing the prominence of usernames below.
The enhancement aims to streamline catching up with unseen content, allowing users to browse through Stories without necessarily opening them, particularly useful for those with extensive friend and family networks.
The future?
As with any beta release, it’s important to note that this feature’s availability on Android or iOS isn’t guaranteed. WhatsApp’s developers might choose not to implement the update in the final version.
The timeline for this feature’s integration into the stable WhatsApp version remains uncertain. Additionally, it’s unclear whether the refreshed interface will be optional or mandatory for all users.
For those with WhatsApp installed on their Android or iPhone, accessing new Stories from connections is simple via the Updates tab, regardless of recent interactions. Users can also create new status updates from this interface.
Stories are also accessible from the main chat tab, but users may miss updates from connections lower down the list if recent interactions haven’t occurred.