WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.19.4.
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is widely rolling out a feature to react to channel updates, and it’s available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Message reactions – channels |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.4 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to get the same feature by installing certain previous updates. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming days. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.3: what’s new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to quickly send original quality photos and videos! |
MESSAGE REACTIONS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.15.18 update, we announced a new feature under development: the ability to choose which reactions can be used within channels. With this feature, channel followers can send a reaction to better express their opinions to specific updates shared within channels, and channel administrators will have the flexibility to personalize these reaction options. The feature to personalize reactions is still in development but, thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.4 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is widely rolling out the feature to react to channel updates!
As you can see in the attached screenshot, it’s now possible to react to messages shared within channels, and followers can also see how many reactions have been added to a specific message. It’s worth noting that some users were already able to react to messages shared within channels with the past updates, but WhatsApp is now releasing this feature to a broader audience, starting today.
Thanks to the ability to react to messages within channels, WhatsApp aims to enhance communication and engagement among channel followers. In fact, reactions can help users interact with the content and updates they receive from channels. By adding a reaction to a channel update, users can express their opinions and sentiments about that message. Since a channel is a one-to-many broadcasting tool, reactions are the only way for channel admins and followers to interact.
The feature to react to channel updates is available to some beta testers that install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming days.
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