WHATSAPP’S next big update could make you text LESS – by adding emoji reactions.
The top-secret feature is currently under development, but may be months or even weeks away.
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WhatsApp currently has no system for emoji reactions.
But fellow Meta-owned app Facebook has had post and comment reactions for years.
And it could be a great way to make you text less – because you could simply “react” to messages rather than having to type out replies.
WhatsApp has already been testing the feature for a while now.
Until now, the feature-in-testing has had six reactions: Like, Love, Laugh, Shocked, Teary Eye, and Pray (or high five…).
But the WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo have uncovered a major change to the feature.
Now there’s a plus icon appearing, which could suggest that you can add different emoji reactions.
“Some people want more emojis to use as reactions,” said WABetaInfo.
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“And WhatsApp is finally working on a new version that offers more reactions for a future update of the app.”
The feature is currently appearing under development in the beta version of WhatsApp.
This is a test app used to trial new WhatsApp features before they go live to the general public.
That means the emoji reaction feature could still change ahead of launch.
Or it could even be scrapped entirely.
What we still don’t know is exactly which emoji you’ll be able to add.
“There is no evidence in the app that lets us understand which new emoji set will be added,” WABetaInfo explained.
“But if we look into Facebook Messenger and Instagram, it is possible to choose any emoji you want.
“Probably WhatsApp will let us choose any emoji as well.”
The advantage is that you’ll probably end up texting less.
Rather than having to type out a reply, you can simply react to something someone has said.
This might mean you get more response from die-hard anti-texters who often leave you on read.
It works across iPhone and Android, so no one is left out.
Sadly, it’s impossible to say how long it will take for a more general rollout.
But given that it’s a fairly simple feature already tested on other apps, it could be a matter of weeks.
In any case, you can sign up for the WhatsApp beta below.
Or if you can’t be bothered, you can just wait for the full general update – which may come later this year.
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.
Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”.
Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Joining the WhatsApp beta on iPhone is more difficult, and has limited capacity.
Follow Apple’s iOS guide here.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
