WhatsApp is introducing a significant update this week, reintroducing a feature known as About in a new and improved form. This feature, reminiscent of an earlier version from the app’s inception, is designed to offer users an easy and quick way to share updates about their lives.
The company stated that the purpose of bringing back About is to provide users with a more visible, timely, and user-friendly platform for sharing personal updates. According to WhatsApp, the enhanced About feature will allow users to quickly convey their current status or what they wish to discuss using a brief phrase and an emoji.
Your About status will be prominently displayed at the top of your chat window, ensuring that it is easily noticeable to others. WhatsApp explained that About will be more prominently featured in both one-on-one chats and user profiles.
Users will have the option to respond directly to someone’s About by tapping on it within a chat. Additionally, About statuses will automatically expire after one day, but users can customize the duration by accessing Settings and selecting ‘Set About’ to adjust the timer.
For those concerned about privacy, WhatsApp offers control over who can view their About status. Users can choose to limit visibility to only their contacts or widen access as desired through privacy settings.
The updated About feature is set to be gradually rolled out to all mobile users throughout this week.
