According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp’s beta tracker, WhatsApp is trying to offer a rapid heart emoji reply on status posts, similar to what Instagram introduced for its users some time ago. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp and Instagram, recently brought out a similar functionality for the latter, making it easier to respond to an Instagram story. “While WhatsApp is working on a new version of message reactions that will allow users to respond to messages with any emoji, the firm is also working on another new feature: rapid reactions! What exactly are rapid reactions? It’s a simple method to send an emoji after seeing a status update on WhatsApp, similar to how we react to stories on Instagram! “WABetaInfo stated on its website.

As previously said, once the functionality is available, users will be able to see emojis above the box, rather than just a text box, while viewing Status on WhatsApp. Instagram Stories, which is comparable to WhatsApp Status, offers the same functionality. “As you can see in this screenshot when you are viewing a status update from WhatsApp Desktop, WhatsApp is planning to add 8 new emojis to use as reactions: Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes, Face with Tears of Joy, Face with Open Mouth, Crying Face, Folded Hands, Clapping Hands, Party Popper, and Hundred Points,” said WABetaInfo.

It should be emphasized that this feature is still in development, and there has been no official confirmation or word from WhatsApp regarding when it will be available for beta users. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is trying to give cashback benefits to UPI payment service customers in India in order to compete with rivals Google Pay and indigenous payments startup Paytm. This move comes only weeks after Meta-owned WhatsApp received regulatory authorization to more than increase its payments service to 100 million or 10 crore users in India, the company’s largest market.

Earlier this month, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) approved an additional 60 million users on WhatsApp’s universal payments interface (UPI), bringing the platform’s payments offering to 100 million users.