WhatsApp starts rolling out emoji reactions in beta for Android

Meta adds emoji reactions to WhatsApp beta for Android. WABetaInfo reports that this feature has appeared for some users in beta version 2.22.8.3. It is unknown when the feature will be available to all WhatsApp users.

The comment feature allows users to long-press on a message and then reply with an emoji, writes WABetaInfo. There are six different options: a thumbs up, a heart, a crying emoji, a smiling face, a shocked face and praying hands.

For now, the feature is only available to a limited number of WhatsApp beta users on Android. Meta seems to be gradually making the comment feature available to more users. There have also been indications in recent weeks that the feature is coming to iOS and WhatsApp Desktop. Beta versions for those two platforms recently got the feature to manage comment notifications, notes WABetaInfo. It is unknown when the response function will be rolled out to the stable version of WhatsApp.

There have been reports for some time that a response function will be available for WhatsApp. The platform thus follows various other chat services. Services like Discord, Slack, iMessage, Google Messenger and Twitter’s DM feature already offer emoji responses. Facebook Messenger, another messaging service from WhatsApp owner Meta, also offers such a feature.

Emoji reactions in WhatsApp. Click for a gif. Source: WABetaInfo