Are you one of those folks who post statuses with a specific audience in mind but wish you could give them a nudge? Well, your wish might just come true.
WhatsApp is testing a new Status Mentions feature for Android, and it’s exactly what it sounds like — now you can mention people in your status. Up to five lucky individuals can get a direct ping that says, “Hey, this one’s for you!” And the best part? Even if they weren’t in your usual audience, they’ll still see it.
Let’s break it down: You post a status, tag a few friends, and they’ll get a message in their chats saying you’ve dropped a gem just for them — complete with a link to view your status. Feeling a bit sneaky? No worries, others won’t even know who’s been mentioned.
Other people viewing the status can’t see you were mentioned though not even other persons mentioned alongside you
If mentioned you can edit and reshare the story to your audience. pic.twitter.com/ii1fU7uzXa
— Ndiritu (@ndiritu_michael) September 18, 2024
And the kicker? Those who get mentioned can even reshare the status — edit it, sprinkle their own magic on it, and send it to their crowd, all without sharing your name or number.
Interestingly and perhaps a privacy concern, the mentions don’t just stop at your contacts; literally any WhatsApp user can mention you — even those random acquaintances in the same group chat. And if the mentions get a bit too much, the only way out is the block button. Yep, no half-measures here.
A little caveat, though: You can only tag people in photo statuses — no text or voice mentions, at least for now. So, keep those mentions visual and let the fun begin.
But like all good things, this is still in the testing phase on Android. So, if you’re not seeing it yet, keep that app updated — because when this rolls out, your statuses will never be the same.
