Popular messaging app WhatsApp has added a 'coloured text statuses' update to its 'Status' feature giving users an option to express themselves in different shades. The update will let people customise text statuses by choosing a specific font and background colour, or adding a link too, instead of just sharing images, GIFs and videos – all of which will last for 24 hours before disappearing. The update has been rolled out to both Android and iOS platforms after testing it in beta stage.
The move follows a string of actions by Facebook to compete against rival Snapchat. In August last year, Facebook introduced Snapchat-like Story feature on Instagram. It later took the feature to its own mobile application and Messanger and allowed users to post status in a similar way. In fact, the latest update, which has been rolled out to WhatsApp today, was first introduced by Facebook on its mobile app allowing users write status update with a colourful background, font, and emoji combination.
Furthermore, 'Status' will now not only be restricted to mobile platforms. Users can also view the feature-related updates on WhatsApp web version as well.
Apart from it, users can select people to share their status update with by changing privacy settings of the feature. You can select from the following three options: 'my contacts,' 'contacts except' and 'only share with'. Users can also view a list of contacts that have seen their status update by tapping on an eye icon present at the bottom of any Status update and can reply to an update.
