WhatsApp is preparing for a significant change in the user interface, which is expected to make status updates much more dominant. According to a report by the notable WABetaInfo blog, a new beta version of the app for the Android operating system (version 2.26.6.9) reveals that the company is testing the integration of status updates directly into the main chats tab, at the top of the screen.
The new design, as published on WABetaInfo, will display a row of profile pictures of contacts who have recently posted an update, similar to the familiar interface from the Messenger or Instagram app. The users who will appear in the top row are those with whom the user maintains the most frequent interaction. In addition, scrolling down the conversations list will reveal a horizontal row of additional status updates that can be browsed between.
The current change marks the continuation of Meta’s trend of turning WhatsApp from a simple messaging app into a full-fledged social network. Although the "Updates" tab at the bottom of the screen is expected to remain in place at this stage, the move is intended to increase exposure to temporary content and make it easier for users to consume it without the need to switch between menus.
The new feature is currently in early testing stages among a limited number of beta testers on Android, and it is not yet known when it will reach all users or whether it will also be implemented in the iOS operating system. Like any feature in development stages, changes to the final design or even a decision not to launch it in the official version are possible, depending on the feedback received from testers.