WhatsApp developing new Instagram-like feature for its users

WhatsApp is developing a new sticker feature that is similar to an existing option on its sister app, Instagram, as part of an upcoming update that is currently accessible for beta users only.

The new feature will introduce interactive stickers to Meta's instant messaging app that give users a creative way to interact through status updates, WABetaInfo reported.

The new "Add Yours" sticker for status updates will allow users to create challenges or prompts to interact with their contacts and encourage them to share their own responses.

This sticker feature is mirrors a similar "Add Yours" sticker feature in Meta's picture and video-sharing app, Instagram and allows users to establish a theme, question, or activity that prompts others to participate by posting their own status updates.

For example, users could create a prompt asking their contacts to share a picture of their pet through a status update, and their contacts will be able to tap the sticker and contribute their own related updates.

However, both features are slightly different.

Unlike the Instagram sticker, the WhatsApp sticker will focus on privacy.

If a user sees a status update with the "Add Yours" sticker and participates by sharing their own content, the audience of the user who shared the update won't see who initiated the chain or what was shared by others who contributed.

This is thanks to the end-to-end encryption in WhatsApp status updates as it ensures that such interactions are kept private and limited to the audience the user has selected in their privacy settings

This new sticker will allow users to engage with their contacts beyond simple text updates or images, promoting more dynamic interactions.

By using the "Add Yours" sticker, people will be able to initiate trends, share personal stories, or simply bring a bit of fun and spontaneity to their user experience in the future.

Although this feature and under development and is set to be introduced in a future update, users of the app's beta version can explore this feature by downloading the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.21 update, which is available on the Google Play Store.