WhatsApp, a widely used messaging platform connecting billions worldwide, is currently experimenting with a groundbreaking feature to improve how users engage with images and videos. Presently, reacting to media involves a long press followed by selecting a reaction from the appearing options.
However, WhatsApp is now testing a new function to streamline this process, allowing for quick replies and reactions directly within the media viewer. This builds on a previous update from September, introducing a reply bar to the media viewer. With this latest beta version, WhatsApp takes it further by integrating a dedicated react bar within the media viewer interface. This innovative approach is set to transform how users interact with multimedia, making communication more dynamic and intuitive.
When interacting with images or videos on WhatsApp, users now have the convenience of replying directly to them. Moreover, by tapping the emoji button on the right side of the bar, users can quickly react to the media content. If the desired reaction isn’t visible, a simple tap on the ‘+’ button allows users to select the preferred emoji.
This updated feature is a significant improvement from the previous system, which required users to perform a long press or swipe right to react or reply to media. While the latest WhatsApp beta version can be accessed through sideloading, it seems that this feature is currently available to a limited group of users, possibly due to a server-side component.
In recent weeks, WhatsApp developers have introduced several new features within the app. These include the ability to pin up to 3 messages per chat, passkey support for iPhones, and chat filters aimed at simplifying the process of finding important messages, among others.