WhatsApp users had to wait longer than users of other messengers. From now on, a practical message function is also available for WhatsApp fans, as Mark Zuckerberg personally announced.
Mark Zuckerberg confirmed it himself on Facebook. As of today, WhatsApp is getting a messaging feature that many users have probably wanted for a long time: emoji reactions for messages in chats. According to the Meta CEO’s Facebook post, the feature will begin rolling out today. So if you can’t react directly to a message with an attached emoji in a chat, you’ll have to be patient. Such features are often activated in waves. So make sure that you use the latest app version for Android and iOS.
Emoji reactions to messages: WhatsApp adds 6 emojis
WhatsApp is introducing a feature announced last month with emoji reactions. However, the idea is not entirely new. The Messenger app is more of a latecomer to this feature. Apple has been offering the “tapbacks” feature for a long time, and other popular messengers such as Telegram or Signal have long since adopted message reactions.
We’re excited to announce that reactions are coming to WhatsApp starting with 👍❤️😂😮😢🙏 and with all emojis and skin-tones to come. pic.twitter.com/086JnVS5Ey
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) April 14, 2022
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In WhatsApp, you can now respond directly to messages in chats with a total of six different emojis instead of having to send a separate message with a big heart or thumb. Especially in group chats, this is a handy feature to keep track of things.
Will Cathcart, who is a senior executive at WhatsApp, also promises more updates. In the future, not just six, but actually all emojis and all skin color variations should be available as a reaction. Like messages, all reactions are provided with end-to-end encryption.
More features planned
In addition to the practical reactions to messages, other areas are also to be expanded, according to the official Head of WhatsApp. For example, in the future you should be able to share files up to 2 GB in size or, as an admin, be able to delete third-party messages. The audio chat is also to be expanded to up to 32 participants. In addition, Meta wants to continue to focus on privacy and end-to-end encryption to make the messenger even more secure.
