‘WhatsApp is testing image and video sharing as status messages’

WhatsApp has included a feature in its most recent beta client called ‘Status’. This allows users to create temporary status messages using images and video. The messages disappear after a period of 24 hours.

The Mashable site reports that a tab called “Status” has been added to the beta client. There, users can add a new status several times a day. They can share it with their entire contact list or with a select group of contacts, the site said. In addition, users can provide the images and videos with their own drawings.

Instagram introduced a similar feature called “Stories” in August, which allows users to share photos that disappear after 24 hours. When announcing the feature, the Facebook subsidiary disclosed that it was copied from Snapchat, which offers users similar functionality through “Snaps.”

Mashable further reports that it doesn’t look like the feature will come to the stable version of WhatsApp any time soon. At this point, beta testers will need an additional app called “watweaks” to take advantage of the feature.