Years after waiting, WhatsApp is seen adding an engaging feature – emoji reactions for messages – in the latest Android beta.
As per reports, a user can long-press on a message to invoke the emojis menu and choose anyone from available reactions to respond. Signs of this feature were seen in iOS and desktop beta versions too, but it isn’t made public yet. This is said to be rolling in phases so that it may appear for everyone gradually.
WhatsApp Messages Emoji Reactions
WhatsApp is always blamed for being slow in catching up with its rivals. Though having over two billion monthly active users, the platform rolls out essential features much slower than its rivals. The new emojis reactions are one among them.
As per WaBetaInfo, the WhatsApp Android beta v2.22.8.3 has support for reacting to incoming messages with emojis. This has long been available in iMessage, Facebook Messenger, Google’s Messages app, and even Twitter DMs. And it is now coming to WhatsApp.
As per them, long-pressing on a certain message will pop a bunch of six emoji reactions – thumbs up, heart, crying, laughter, shocked face, or folded hands – to react in a different way other than text messages or stickers. This would be fun if you wanted the make quick and simple reactions.
WhatsApp seems to be rolling out this feature on Android in phases since many running on the same version are yet to experience it. While we wait for the same to come in our devices, signs of this were earlier spotted in iOS beta and desktop apps.
Settings toggle as “Reaction Notifications” in iOS, and a similar option in the desktop beta app hints the feature is in the pipeline for all the WhatsApp clients. So wait until it rolls out, in whatever device you’re running on.
