WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update this week, reintroducing a feature known as About with a new twist. Longtime users may recall an earlier version of this feature from the app’s early days.
The reintroduction of About is aimed at providing users with a simple and quick way to share updates about their lives, according to WhatsApp. The Meta-owned company stated, “Today we’re reintroducing and enhancing About, making it more visible, timely, and user-friendly.”
So, what does the new About feature offer, and when can users expect it on their phones? The feature allows users to post brief updates about their lives, accompanied by an emoji, to inform others why they may not be available to chat or what they are interested in discussing.
Your About status will be prominently displayed at the top of your chat window for easy visibility by others. WhatsApp explained, “About will now be more prominently displayed at the top of 1-1 chats and on your profile.”
Users can also respond directly to someone’s About by tapping on it within a chat. The About status will automatically expire after a day, but users have the option to make it disappear sooner or last longer by adjusting the timer in the Settings section under ‘Set About.’
For users concerned about privacy, WhatsApp offers control over who can view their About status. In the privacy settings, users can choose to make it visible only to their contacts or broaden its visibility.
The updated About feature is being rolled out to all mobile users beginning this week, as per WhatsApp’s announcement.