WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.17.21: what's new?

WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.17.21.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a like reaction feature for status updates, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.19.23 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a new feature to quickly react to status updates. With this improvement, users would have been able to easily express their appreciation about a status update by adding a quick reaction directly on the status screen. This would have enhanced user interactions by allowing them to engage with status updates without cluttering the conversation thread. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with the public, as some beta testers can now experiment with a quick reaction feature directly within the status screen. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.17.21 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a like reaction feature for status updates!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can now react to status updates using a heart emoji. When a user reacts to a status update with the new reaction button, the recipient will receive a notification informing them that someone liked their status update. All users who reacted to the status update will be listed within the usual viewers sheet, making it easier to keep track of who liked the shared content. This centralized list ensures that users can quickly see both the viewers and those who reacted, all in one place.

It is worth noting that users have full control over these notifications since they can be disabled within the notification settings, as explained in our article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.9.29 update. This option might be particularly useful for those who prefer to avoid being constantly alerted to reactions, especially if they receive a large number of them. By disabling these notifications, users can maintain focus without frequent interruptions while still having the ability to check reactions at their convenience within the viewers sheet. It is also important to highlight that these like reactions are private and protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that nobody other than the recipient can see who reacted to the status update, ensuring that these interactions remain confidential and visible only to the intended person.

A like reaction feature for status updates is available to some beta testers who 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 weeks.

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