Whatsapp status or story?

WhatsApp introduced the Status feature in 2017 as a way for users to share photos, videos and text that disappear after 24 hours. It was designed to be similar to Instagram and Snapchat Stories. In 2019, WhatsApp launched the Stories feature, which allows creating visual stories that disappear after 24 hours. This led to some confusion among users about the difference between Status and Stories on WhatsApp.

What is WhatsApp Status?

WhatsApp Status is a feature that allows users to share text, photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. When you post something to your Status, it goes out to all your WhatsApp contacts. They can view and reply to your Status updates but cannot save or share them. Status updates do not appear in the main Chats tab, but only in the Status tab. Some key points about WhatsApp Status:

• Status updates disappear after 24 hours.
• Posts can include text, photos, videos and GIFs.
• Visible to all your WhatsApp contacts.
• Viewers can reply but not share your Status update.
• Appears in the Status tab, not Chats.

The WhatsApp Status feature was added in an update in February 2017. The purpose was to create something similar to Snapchat Stories that allowed sharing moments and posts that expire automatically. When first introduced, Status updates could only include photos, videos and text captions. Support for GIFs was added later on. Overall, WhatsApp Status gives you a private space to share moments with your contacts in an ephemeral way.

What are WhatsApp Stories?

WhatsApp Stories allow creating visual stories by stringing together photos and videos with text, emoji and drawings. Much like Status updates, Stories disappear after 24 hours and live in the Status tab. WhatsApp Stories have the following characteristics:

• Combine multiple photos/videos into visual stories.
• Add text, drawings and emoji over media.
• Disappears after 24 hours.
• Appears in your Status updates.
• Visible to all your WhatsApp contacts.

The Stories feature was added to WhatsApp in November 2019, allowing users to create the kind of visual stories popularized by apps like Instagram and Snapchat. You can string multiple photos and videos together with drawings, text and emoji to build visual narratives that give your contacts a peek into your day. Stories live in your Status tab, mixed in with your other Status updates.

Key Differences

While WhatsApp Status and Stories both involve sharing ephemeral updates, there are some key differences:

• Composition – Status can only include one photo, video or text update at a time. Stories allow multiple media combined.
• Creativity – Stories enable drawings, text, emoji overlays but Status does not.
• Context – Stories have a visual narrative tying elements together. Status is individual updates without context.
• Origins – Status was added first in 2017, modeled after Snapchat. Stories came later in 2019.

In summary:

• WhatsApp Status = Individual ephemeral text, photo and video updates
• WhatsApp Stories = Visual stories combining multiple media with drawings and text

How to Use WhatsApp Status

Posting a WhatsApp Status update is quick and easy. Here are the steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on the Status tab at the bottom.
2. Tap on “My Status” at the top of the tab.
3. Capture a photo/video or select from your camera roll.
4. Crop or edit the media if desired.
5. Type a text caption if you want.
6. Tap Send to post it as your Status update.

The status will now be visible to all your WhatsApp contacts for 24 hours. You can post multiple status updates. Viewers can tap to open your Status and send a reply which you will receive as a private message.

How to Use WhatsApp Stories

Creating WhatsApp Stories takes a few more steps but enables more creativity:

1. Open the WhatsApp Status tab.
2. Tap on “My Status” then the camera icon.
3. Capture or select your first photo/video for the story.
4. Swipe up to add more media to the story.
5. Tap the pen icon to draw or add text.
6. Tap the sticker icon to add emojis.
7. Rearrange media by long pressing and dragging.
8. Delete elements by tapping the trash icon.
9. Tap Send when done to post the story.

You can build Stories out of up to 30 photos and videos. Add creativity by mixing in drawings, text and stickers. Remember Stories disappear after 24 hours like regular Statuses. Your contacts can view them and respond via private message.

Status and Stories Privacy

Both WhatsApp Status and Stories go out to all your contacts by default. However, you can customize who sees your updates:

• My Contacts – Default setting, visible to all your contacts.
• My Contacts Except – Choose specific contacts to exclude.
• Only Share With – Restrict visibility only to certain contacts.

To change privacy settings:

1. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
2. Tap Status to configure who can see your updates.

Set your preference to My Contacts, My Contacts Except or Only Share With. This will apply to both Status and Stories visbility. You can also disable the Read Receipts feature here.

Viewing Shared Statuses and Stories

To view Statuses and Stories shared by your contacts:

1. Open the Status tab in WhatsApp.
2. Tap on a contact’s name to view their latest Status update.
3. Swipe up to view their Story if they’ve posted one.
4. Tap to open Statuses and Stories for full screen viewing.
5. Double tap to like. Type to reply via private message.

Replies you send to Statuses will go as private messages to the contact. Stories do not have a private reply option. You can also long press on a Status or Story to save it to your camera roll. Remember that all Statuses and Stories disappear after 24 hours.

Status vs. Stories – Which Should You Use?

When sharing ephemeral updates on WhatsApp, which option should you use? Here are some recommendations:

• Use Status for individual text, photo and video updates you want to share.
• Use Stories to create visual narratives by stringing multiple photos/videos together.
• Stories if you want to overlay drawings, text and emoji.
• Status for quick ephemeral sharing without much creative editing.
• Stories for fun, visually expressive updates with doodles and text.

In general, Stories tend to be more colorful, creative and expressive. Status provides a quick way to share individual ephemeral moments. Use Stories when you want to take the time to create visual narratives, and Status for one-off ephemeral sharing.

Pro Tips

Some expert tips for mastering WhatsApp Status and Stories:

• Keep Status updates short and timely. Don’t overshare.
• Post Stories with a cohesive narrative for more impact.
• Change privacy settings so not everything goes to all contacts.
• Reply privately via message to Status updates if needed.
• Use drawings, emoji and text in Stories for fun effects.
• Don’t overthink it! Statuses and Stories disappear in 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save someone else’s WhatsApp Status or Story?

Yes, you can save others’ Status updates and Stories by long pressing on them and tapping “Save”. This will save them to your phone’s internal storage.

Do Status updates appear in my Chats tab?

No, WhatsApp Status updates only appear in the Status tab. They do not show up in your regular Chats.

Can I post a Status without media?

Yes, you can post a text-only Status update without any photos, videos or GIFs attached.

Do WhatsApp Stories disappear?

Yes, WhatsApp Stories automatically disappear after 24 hours, just like regular Status updates.

Can I see who viewed my WhatsApp Status?

WhatsApp does not show you who has viewed your Status. It only shows the total number of views your Status received.

Conclusion

WhatsApp Status and Stories both allow sharing ephemeral updates, but Stories enable more creativity. Use Stories to combine photos, videos, drawings and text into visual narratives. Status is ideal for quick photo, video and text updates. Remember to adjust privacy settings and have fun sharing moments that disappear in 24 hours!