TL; DR
- WhatsApp is working to bring message reactions into the chat app.
- The feature would likely allow users to reply to messages directly with emojis.
- It is unclear when the beta and stable channel feature will be introduced.
Currently, the only way to reply to a WhatsApp message is to send a follow-up message. Sure, you can reply or make a call with an audio message, but unlike other chat platforms, there is no way to send quick and easy “message reactions”. However, this could change soon.
According to feature tipsters WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working to bring message responses to the platform. Although the feature is not yet available, it seems likely that it reflects the responsiveness functionality of signals. Users could send “reactions”, presumably in the form of emojis, to new messages. This would provide an alternative way for users to express their feelings about a statement without sending a follow-up response.
As with the recently introduced View Once feature, those running older versions of WhatsApp won’t get any responses. Instead, they’ll get a message asking them to update their app version.
Message reactions would be a relatively minor addition to functionality, but could be valuable in certain scenarios. Group chats are often inundated with multiple responses from multiple users. Sending a message response could be a useful alternative to reduce clutter. With an efficient implementation, it could also offer a faster way of acknowledging a message when it is occupied or in a time emergency.
WhatsApp message reactions: when will the feature come?
It’s unclear how WhatsApp implements message responses, or whether users can respond with virtually any emoji. The details are not yet known. It’s likely that the feature will indulge in beta builds before it’s available to everyone. So don’t expect to see message reactions on your device anytime soon.
Would you use message reactions if WhatsApp provided them? Let us know by voting in the poll above.
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