WhatsApp introduced the Status feature in February 2017, allowing users to share text, photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. The feature was added in an update to WhatsApp version 2.17.110 for iOS and 2.17.86 for Android.
The Introduction of WhatsApp Status
Prior to February 2017, WhatsApp had no native sharing feature similar to Stories on other social media platforms. The company was focused solely on offering an instant messaging service. However, with the rising popularity of visual sharing formats like Snapchat Stories, Facebook Stories and Instagram Stories, WhatsApp decided to add its own version called Status.
WhatsApp officially announced the Status feature on its blog on February 16, 2017. The announcement said that Status “allows you to share photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours.” It was positioned as a simple way to share everyday moments with your contacts.
The update introducing Status rolled out to WhatsApp users worldwide starting February 20, 2017. It was included in version 2.17.110 of WhatsApp for iOS released on February 20th and version 2.17.86 for Android released on February 21st.
Upon opening WhatsApp after installing the update, users saw a new Status tab next to the Chats tab. The feature worked similarly to Stories on Instagram and Snapchat – users could post photos, videos or GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. Text-only status updates were also supported.
WhatsApp’s Motivation for Adding Status
Prior to launching Status in 2017, WhatsApp had firmly positioned itself as a private messaging app, not a social media platform. So why did it decide to add a social media-style sharing format?
There were a few likely motivations behind WhatsApp’s decision:
- Capitalizing on the popularity of Stories – By early 2017, Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories had proven immensely popular, especially among younger users. WhatsApp likely wanted to benefit from this momentum.
- Preventing migration to other apps – Stories were gaining traction in part because they enabled more casual, ephemeral sharing. Introducing Status allowed WhatsApp users to have this experience within WhatsApp, rather than needing to switch to other apps.
- Enhancing private connections – WhatsApp noted that 400 million photos were shared daily on WhatsApp as of February 2017. Status gave users another way to visually share their lives with contacts.
- Differentiating from competitors – Status offered a unique point of differentiation from other messaging apps like LINE, WeChat and Facebook Messenger.
Overall, Status allowed WhatsApp to keep pace with changing social media behaviors and expectations. The company likely saw it as a logical addition to solidify WhatsApp’s positioning as an all-in-one communication app.
WhatsApp Status vs. Instagram and Snapchat Stories
Given the clear inspiration from Snapchat and Instagram Stories, WhatsApp Status shared many similarities with these formats:
- Ephemeral sharing – Like Stories, Status updates disappeared after 24 hours.
- Visual creativity – Users could spice up status posts with doodles, stickers, emoji, and text captions.
- Image sequences – Multiple photos or videos could be strung together to create slideshows.
However, there were some key differences between WhatsApp Status and Stories on Instagram and Snapchat:
- Private network – Status updates could only be viewed by your WhatsApp contacts, unlike the public (or semi-public) nature of Stories.
- Replies – WhatsApp did not initially allow replies to Status, whereas Instagram and Snapchat had commenting features.
- View tracking – Instagram and Snapchat show who has viewed your Stories, a feature WhatsApp Status lacked.
WhatsApp Status was designed to replicate the Stories format, but with a focus on private sharing within your existing contacts list. The company emphasized that the privacy of Status was similar to messages in WhatsApp.
Initial User Response
Early reviews of Status from WhatsApp users were somewhat mixed:
- Positive feedback cited the ease of sharing casual moments without clogging up chats. Some preferred the privacy of Status compared to other Stories platforms.
- Negative critiques noted missing features compared to Instagram/Snapchat Stories, such as inability to mention users or see who viewed your post. Others felt WhatsApp was straying too far from its core messaging function.
- Many users were confused about how Status differed from the existing About section in user profiles, which also allowed sharing text, photos and videos.
Overall, user sentiment seemed to indicate that Status had potential to become a popular feature, but may require refinements to the user experience. In particular, WhatsApp needed to communicate how Status filled a different use case than About.
Notably, WhatsApp Status did gain traction relatively quickly, hitting 175 million daily active users within the first 6 months after launch.
Evolution of WhatsApp Status
In the 5+ years since launching, WhatsApp has continued updating and improving Status:
- View Counts – In early 2018, WhatsApp began showing view counts for Status, so users could see who opened their post.
- Replies – Also in 2018, the ability to reply to Status updates was added.
- Profile rings – Rings were added around profile pictures if someone posted a Status update.
- Doodles – More doodle tools, stickers and location tagging were added over time.
- Privacy – Controls were added for selecting Status privacy – either all contacts, some contacts, or contacts except some.
- Status tab – A separate tab just for Status was added, making it more prominent in the app.
- Custom durations – Users gained the ability to set Statuses to last for less than 24 hours.
WhatsApp has clearly invested heavily in making Status a well-rounded, engaging feature. Today, it is one of the app’s core components, evolving far beyond the original Snapchat Stories-inspired release.
Impact of Status on WhatsApp
While initially met with mixed reviews, WhatsApp Status has become a popular way for users to share moments and visual content. Some key impacts include:
- Provides an alternative to messaging – For less time-sensitive sharing, Status relieves pressure on private chats.
- Enhances connections – Status gives users insight into their contacts’ lives, strengthening personal relationships.
- Drives engagement – Creating and viewing Statuses increases time spent in the WhatsApp app.
- Ads opportunity – Status offers WhatsApp potential ad inventory outside of the messaging flow.
- Competitive differentiation – Status adoption helps WhatsApp stand apart from other chat apps.
Overall, Status fulfilled WhatsApp’s goals of capitalizing on visual communication trends and solidifying its positioning as an all-in-one communication app. It gave users a new avenue for self-expression and interactions within WhatsApp’s network.
Usage and Adoption of Status
While WhatsApp does not regularly share official usage metrics, Status is clearly widely adopted based on various estimates:
- As of January 2018, WhatsApp reported 300 million daily active Status users, less than a year after launch.
- Estimates indicated 500 million daily users by May 2019.
- Social media expert Matt Navarra estimated Status had over 1 billion daily users as of May 2022.
This data indicates Status quickly joined the core set of features that drive daily engagement for WhatsApp users. The growth trajectory has been rapid, especially in international markets where WhatsApp dominates messaging.
Status is now likely comparable in scale to Stories on Instagram and Snapchat. Its privacy focus remains a differentiator that appeals to many WhatsApp users.
Future Outlook
Given the runaway popularity of Status, WhatsApp will likely continue investing in improvements and new capabilities for the feature. Some possible areas of future development include:
- Additional creative tools – Such as more AR effects, drawing tools, and content editing options within Status.
- Commerce potential – Enabling businesses to showcase products or deals via Status in targeted ways.
- Algorithmic feeds – Prioritizing Status updates from closer/more relevant contacts, as Facebook does with Stories.
- New content formats – Support for collaborative statuses, polls, questionnaires and other interactive content.
Status has succeeded in evolving WhatsApp into a multifaceted platform. The company will likely explore ways to enhance Status as both a self-expression tool and potential commercial environment, while retaining its core focus on private communication.