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In a move to augment user engagement, WhatsApp, the renowned instant messaging platform under the Meta umbrella boasting over 2 billion users globally, is in the process of testing an innovative feature. This feature entails the presentation of a user's status alongside their last seen information directly within the chat window.
The revelation comes from the latest beta version of WhatsApp (v2.23.25.11) for Android, as unearthed by WABetaInfo. This iteration introduces a functionality that strategically showcases a contact's profile details within the confines of the chat window.
Specifically, the status and last seen details (if the latter is enabled) of a contact will now be visible just beneath their name in the application's chat window. This information, however, is contingent upon the user's privacy settings within WhatsApp. The display of this data is restricted to instances where the user has opted to enable it.
This development holds practical utility, as users can now effortlessly ascertain a contact's status without the need to navigate through the traditional process of tapping and opening the profile information screen. This streamlining eliminates unnecessary steps and facilitates quicker checks for any updates to a contact's status.
Reports indicate that user feedback has played a pivotal role in shaping this feature, with requests for a similar functionality dating back over the past couple of years.
Anticipated for global rollout in a forthcoming version of WhatsApp for Android, the question remains as to whether developers are concurrently working on a parallel feature for iOS devices.
Beyond this specific update, WhatsApp has been actively diversifying its feature set in recent months. This includes the introduction of a shortcut button for swift access to an AI-powered chatbot akin to ChatGPT, enhancements to voice chats tailored for group conversations, as well as the implementation of email verification mechanisms for both Android and iOS platforms, among other noteworthy additions.
