WhatsApp brings back its classic text-based Status feature as a modern “About” tool, allowing short, customizable updates with enhanced privacy controls.
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| WhatsApp unveils a refreshed About feature inspired by Instagram Notes, offering ephemeral text posts with customizable privacy. Image: CH |
Tech Desk — November 28, 2025:
WhatsApp is once again reshaping the way users communicate, reintroducing a classic feature in a thoroughly modern form. The messaging platform has launched its new “About” feature, reviving the early text-based Status option that was popular a decade ago. This time, however, the feature has returned with a cleaner design, stronger privacy protections, and functionality that aligns closely with Instagram’s Notes. Meta’s intention is clear: create a unified ecosystem of light, expressive communication tools across its apps.
Although WhatsApp users may recall the original Status text field, the company notes that the new version offers far more control and visibility. The About update allows users to post short text messages that disappear by default after 24 hours. Those who prefer a different timeframe can adjust the duration manually, making the feature flexible enough for both brief updates and slightly longer expressions. These posts can be used to signal availability, share a quick thought, express a mood, or offer context for delayed replies, without requiring a full conversation.
Privacy remains a central element of the redesign. Instead of showing updates to all contacts by default, users can choose exactly who sees their About. The interface now makes it easier to either share with everyone, limit visibility to selected contacts, or hide updates from specific individuals. This approach fits into Meta’s ongoing push to give users more nuanced control over their social presence.
Posting an About update requires only a few steps. Users open WhatsApp, tap their profile picture, type their message, select who can view it, choose how long it will remain visible, and tap Post. The frictionless process is designed to encourage casual, spontaneous expression—something that has become increasingly valuable in fast-paced digital interactions.
By reintroducing and modernizing this feature, WhatsApp is positioning itself as more than just a messaging app. The revamped About tool helps bridge the gap between practical communication and lightweight social sharing. As the boundaries between messaging and social platforms continue to blur, WhatsApp’s new About feature demonstrates Meta’s broader strategy: keeping users engaged through simple, flexible tools that fit naturally into everyday digital life.