WhatsApp Introduces ”About” Updates, Mirroring Instagram‘s “notes” Feature
November 22, 2025 – WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature allowing users to share short, ephemeral updates with thier contacts, closely resembling Instagram’s “Notes” functionality. The update, announced this week, introduces a space for fast thoughts, moods, or questions visible directly within the app when contacts open it.
According to reports from tech news outlets, these “About” updates are limited to 60 characters and automatically disappear after 24 hours. Users can enhance their updates with emojis.TechCrunch noted that “WhatsApp is getting its own version of the status update feature, similar to Instagram Notes,” highlighting Meta‘s strategy to create a more unified user experience across its platforms. (Source: TechCrunch)
The rollout of the feature was also reported by WABetaInfo on Twitter:
WhatsApp is Rolling Out a Smarter About Feature with Auto Expiring Status Updates!
WhatsApp announced an upgraded About feature designed to make status sharing more timely, expressive, and useful.https://t.co/4IBiiuKzqB pic.twitter.com/p3ch2CxEmZ
– WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) November 21, 2025
The move is seen as a strategy to boost engagement on WhatsApp, mirroring the success of “Notes” on Instagram, particularly with younger audiences. Meta hopes the feature will encourage more direct interaction and serve as an “ice-breaker” for conversations. Interestingly, the update also represents a return to WhatsApp’s origins, when the app was primarily used to display a user’s status – such as “At work” or “Low battery” – before evolving into a messaging platform.
Key features and privacy controls include:
* Visibility: Users can control who sees their updates through privacy settings, similar to existing Status controls.
* Interaction: Replies to updates arrive as direct messages in a private chat.
* Management: Updates can be deleted at any time before the 24-hour expiration.
The rollout is currently gradual, meaning not all users will have access to the feature promptly.
This update underscores Meta’s broader effort to standardize functionalities across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, focusing on features that drive user engagement. While each platform maintains its core identity, Meta is increasingly replicating triumphant features across its ecosystem.
It remains to be seen how WhatsApp users will embrace the new feature, particularly given the app’s traditionally minimalist interface. Some users may view the updates as a welcome addition, while others may consider them an needless distraction.
