WhatsApp is expanding its Status feature with a new option that lets users mention specific contacts in text-only status updates. Until now, mentions were available only in photo and video statuses, but the company is now extending the tool to plain text posts as well.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is included in WhatsApp Android beta version 2.26.25.2 and is being rolled out gradually to users. The way it works is similar to media statuses: a user can tag a chosen contact, and only that person receives a notification about the mention.
WhatsApp says the mention remains private and is not visible to other people viewing the status. Other contacts can still see the status based on the viewer settings, but they will not know that someone was specifically tagged in it. Only the person mentioned gets a dedicated alert.
The expansion is meant to make Status more interactive and to help users draw the attention of friends or family to a specific update, even when it is only text and has no image or video. It is part of a series of recent Status-related updates WhatsApp has been rolling out in recent months to increase sharing and engagement inside the app.