WhatsApp Renames Status to Updates: Learn About Changes and New Channel Features

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Image source: engadget

WhatsApp, the globally popular messaging app, continuously introduces new features to delight its users. One of the highly favored features has been the "status" feature, enabling users to share photos, videos, or text that disappears within 24 hours.

However, recently, WhatsApp users may have noticed a change in the status menu. The status menu has been rebranded as "updates," and its appearance is different from before. What's the reason behind this change? Read on to find the answers.

Distinguishing Between WhatsApp Status and Updates

Previously, WhatsApp's status menu contained a list of statuses created by a user's contacts. These statuses were vertically organized, and users could view them by tapping. Additionally, users could create their own status by tapping the pencil or camera icon in the bottom right corner.

Now, the status menu has evolved into "updates." WhatsApp's updates menu not only includes a list of statuses but also a list of channels. These channels are positioned at the top of the updates menu and are organized horizontally. Statuses are still present below them, also arranged horizontally.

The appearance of WhatsApp's updates menu bears a resemblance to Instagram Stories, which also features horizontally organized story lists. However, there are differences between stories and statuses. Stories are an Instagram feature that allows users to share photos or videos that disappear in 24 hours, while statuses in WhatsApp serve the same purpose but also allow text sharing.

What Are WhatsApp Channels?

WhatsApp channels are a new feature that enables users to follow information channels from verified green-checkmarked accounts across various fields. In Indonesia, some examples of verified accounts with WhatsApp channels include BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), Kominfo (Ministry of Communication and Information Technology), Kemenkes (Ministry of Health), Kemendikbud (Ministry of Education and Culture), Kemendag (Ministry of Trade), OJK (Financial Services Authority), Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Agency), and more.

By following WhatsApp channels, users can receive the latest information directly within the WhatsApp application from these accounts. Information shared by channel admins is one-way, meaning users can't reply with chat messages. Users can only react with emojis to the information shared.

WhatsApp channels do not appear in the user's chat list. Channels that a user follows are located in the updates menu alongside statuses. Users can easily view the channels they want by tapping on them.

How to Follow WhatsApp Channels

To follow WhatsApp channels, users need to follow these steps:

• 1. Open the WhatsApp updates menu.
• 2. Swipe right to see the list of channels.
• 3. Select the channel you want to follow.
• 4. Click the "Follow" button.
• 5. Confirm by tapping "Yes."

Afterward, users will receive a notification confirming that they have successfully followed the channel. Users can also view channel details by tapping the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the channel chat space.

How to Stop Following WhatsApp Channels

If users want to stop following WhatsApp channels, they can follow these steps:

• 1. Open the WhatsApp updates menu.
• 2. Swipe right to see the list of channels.
• 3. Select the channel you want to unfollow.
• 4. Click the "Stop Following" button.
• 5. Confirm by tapping "Yes."

Following these steps, users will receive a notification confirming that they have successfully stopped following the channel. Users can also delete channel chat history by tapping the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the channel chat space.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the WhatsApp Channels Feature

The WhatsApp channels feature offers several advantages and disadvantages, including:

Advantages:

- Facilitates access to the latest information from trusted accounts.

- Does not clutter the user's chat list, as channels are separate from regular chats.

- Reacting with emojis to shared information can enhance interaction between users and channel admins.

Disadvantages:

- Users cannot reply to shared information with chat messages, as it's one-way communication.

- Users cannot configure channel notifications; they will always appear whenever there is new information.

- Users cannot remove channels from the updates menu as long as they follow the channel.

In conclusion, this article has explained the transformation of WhatsApp's status menu into updates and the accompanying WhatsApp channels feature. We hope this article proves useful to those who wish to explore WhatsApp's new features further. Thank you.