WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.20.3: what's new?

WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.20.3.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to mention contacts in status updates, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.6.19 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a feature to mention contacts in status updates. This feature allows users to directly involve specific contacts in their status updates by notifying them through a mention. When a contact is mentioned, they will receive a notification, making it easier for users to engage with their intended audience. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with the public, as some beta testers can now experiment with mentioning contacts in their status updates. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.20.3 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to mention contacts in status updates!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a feature that allows them to mention specific contacts when sharing status updates. To mention a contact, eligible users will find a button located within the caption bar when attempting to share photos and videos via status updates. This option is available before publishing the status, making it easier for users to choose the contacts they wish to mention. Once a contact is mentioned, they receive a notification that they've been mentioned in the status update. In addition, they will receive a message in their chat with the user, informing them that they've been mentioned in a status update.

It's important to note that these mentions are private. This means that other viewers of the status update cannot see who has been mentioned. Only the mentioned contact will receive the notification and the message in their chat. This ensures that the interaction remains confidential between the user and the mentioned contact, as the mention is not visible to anyone else who views the status. As a result, users can target specific people in their status updates without sharing this information with their broader audience.

Mentioned contacts will always receive the status update regardless of the sender's privacy settings. Even if the mentioned contact is excluded from viewing other status updates due to specific privacy configurations, they will still be able to view the status update in which they were mentioned. This ensures that important updates involving mentioned contacts are never missed, since they are always included as recipients of the status update. It's worth noting that mentioned contacts can also reshare the status update with their own audience through a new reshare button within the status screen. If they find the update relevant or important, they can easily share it with their own contacts, helping extend the reach of the content. However, when the mentioned contact reshares the status update, the identity of the original creator remains private. This means that viewers of the reshared status cannot directly reach out to the original creator.

A feature to mention contacts in 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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