WhatsApp is reintroducing its “About” feature, offering a text-based status update system similar to Instagram Notes. The Meta-owned messaging platform allows users to post short updates that contacts can view, providing a quick way to share what they are doing or communicate why they might not be available to respond immediately. WhatsApp suggests using the feature as a conversation starter, giving friends and contacts context about current activities or moods.
Although it may appear new, the “About” feature actually predates WhatsApp’s emphasis on secure messaging, serving as one of the platform’s original tools for sharing status updates.
With this reintroduction, WhatsApp aims to give the “About” section more visibility. Status updates will now appear prominently at the top of one-on-one chats and on user profiles, and recipients can directly reply to these updates within the chat interface.
By default, the “About” status disappears after 24 hours, similar to Instagram Notes, but users can customize the timer to make updates vanish sooner or last longer. Additionally, WhatsApp provides control over visibility, allowing users to share updates only with contacts or make them more publicly accessible.
While the current feature is more basic than Instagram Notes—which supports short, looping videos and music integration—it lays the groundwork for potential future enhancements. If adoption grows, WhatsApp could expand the functionality, incorporating more interactive and multimedia options over time.
WhatsApp confirmed the rollout will begin this week for mobile users. The update strengthens the platform’s social features while retaining its core focus on private messaging. By combining ease of sharing with conversational potential, the new “About” feature gives users another way to communicate updates quickly, fostering interaction and connection within the app.
The reintroduction of the “About” status represents WhatsApp’s effort to merge simplicity and engagement, providing a familiar yet refreshed way for users to communicate in text form without leaving the chat interface. It is part of a broader trend in messaging apps toward integrating social features alongside secure communication.
