WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update this week, reintroducing a feature called About with a new twist. Longtime users may recall an earlier version of this feature that was available when the chat app first launched.
The aim of reviving About, as per WhatsApp, is to provide users with a quick and simple way to share updates about their lives. The Meta-owned company stated, “Today we’re reintroducing and improving About, making it more visible, timely, and easier to use.”
So, what does the revamped About feature offer, and when can users expect it to be available on their phones? This feature allows users to share brief updates about their lives with a short phrase and an emoji, indicating why they may be unavailable to chat or what they want to discuss.
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 easier to see at the top of 1-1 chats and on your profile.”
Moreover, users can directly respond to someone’s About by tapping on it in a chat. The About status will expire after a day, but users have the option to customize its duration by going to Settings and selecting ‘Set About.’
For those concerned about privacy, WhatsApp allows users to control who can view their About status. In the privacy settings, users can choose to make it visible only to their contacts or to a broader audience.
The updated About feature will be gradually rolled out to all mobile users starting this week.