The “information” section of Whatsapp is back: you can share text, photos and emojis with your contacts. Each update is visible for 24 hours.
WhatsApp brings back one of its functions, “Information”, or “Info”, transforming it into a tool designed to report: what you are doing, why you are not available or, simply, to leave a quick message to your contacts.
It is a return to the origins, but with a more modern and visible approach, clearly inspired by Notes of Instagram: small phrases, emojis and status updates destined to disappear after 24 hours. A step that continues to bring the Meta app closer to the world of “light” social networks, where communication is ephemeral, instantaneous and increasingly personalized. The update for Android and iPhone began on November 20th, but is not yet available for everyone.
How it works. If one of your contacts has used the function, their message will appear at the top of each individual chat, and will also be visible when opening their profile. How it works is simple: by touching it, you can respond directly to a friend’s update, just like with Instagram Notes.
To publish your “Information” instead, you need to open WhatsApp, from the page with all the chats, go to the Settings tab (tapping on the three dots at the top right) and – next to your avatar and under your name or nickname – replace the green writing “What’s happening?” or modify a previous thought already set. You can choose between a custom phrase or among the quick options suggested by the app (for example “Available”, “Busy”, “In a meeting”). The update can include text and emoji and is automatically shown to authorized contacts. The Information will remain there for 24 hours, but it is possible to change the timer: by clicking on “Duration” (accessed with a touch on the phrase itself), in fact, you can decide to let it expire earlier or keep it longer.
Privacy. Like Statuses and profile photos, Information also has specific privacy controls. By opening Settings > Privacy > Information, the user can choose between four options: “All”, “My contacts”, “My contacts except…” or “None”. The pre-selection is set to “My contacts”, a choice consistent with WhatsApp’s more private approach compared to other social platforms.
Furthermore, unlike Instagram Notes, Information does not include videos, music or animated loops: for now they remain faithful to the original textual formula, focusing on quick sentences and micro-updates designed to encourage spontaneous conversations.
WhatsApp suggests using them also to indicate why you are not available, to signal a preference (for example “Write to me, I’m free”) or simply to show a momentary mood.
It is a function that is part of the strategy of giving the app more “social” tools without transforming it (for now) into a social network.
WhatsApp more social. This option return Information reflects an evolution already noted with previous updates: WhatsApp no longer wants to be just an encrypted conversation service, but also an environment in which to share ideas, micro-messages, moods and ideas for dialogue. Info allows you to communicate without starting a chat. The possibility of replying with quick responses makes the system a channel for immediate interaction. It is a move that follows other recent introductions, such as Channels or Communities, WhatsApp goes beyond the simple exchange of messages, and is becoming a complete social platform, with an eye on privacy.
