WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that will feel familiar to anyone who uses Instagram Notes. The messaging app is reintroducing a short text status option called About, giving users a quick way to share what they are doing or how they are feeling.
This might seem like a brand-new feature, but WhatsApp points out that this was actually part of the app long before private messaging took over. In the early days, people used WhatsApp mainly to post short updates. The company is now bringing that idea back, but with more visibility and a cleaner design.
The new About status appears at the top of one-on-one chats and on user profiles. Friends can tap the status to reply directly, making it a simple way to start conversations or share small moments without sending a full message. You can use it to tell people you are busy, unavailable, or just share something fun.
By default, the status disappears after 24 hours, similar to Instagram Notes. But users can change the timer if they want it to vanish sooner or stay longer. Privacy controls are also built in, so you can choose who gets to see your About update.
Right now, the feature is focused only on text. Instagram Notes already supports looping videos and music sharing, and WhatsApp may explore similar additions if users embrace the new About option.
The rollout has already begun, and WhatsApp says all mobile users will get the feature over the coming days. It is a small update, but it brings back a piece of WhatsApp’s history in a fresher, more social way.
