WhatsApp to get this Instagram feature, starts rolling out to Beta users on Android – Times of India

Meta wants Instagram to be more like TikTok, while WhatsApp is on the way to becoming more like Instagram. Just like you react to stories on Instagram, you might soon be able to react to status updates with emojis.
WABetaInfo reports that the feature is rolling out to beta testers on Android, allowing them to react to a status update with an emoji. The feature is currently available in WhatsApp for beta version 2.22.17.24. However, the report says that some of the users with beta versions 2.22.17.21, 2.22.17.22, and 2.22.17.23 are also receiving this feature.
So what exactly is this feature? It is very simple, and you might have used it already on Instagram. It lets users react to their contact’s status update with an emoji from the given eight; uncanny resemblance. You have to swipe up while viewing the status and tap the emoji just like you do on Instagram. And if someone reacts to your status, you will receive a notification and a message with the emoji.
The feature is only available for a limited number of beta users but is expected to be available widely in the coming weeks. Once perfected, we can expect the feature, the ability to react to status updates with emoji in the stable update. However, there is no confirmation on if and when this feature will be made available in the stable version.
Interestingly, it is not the first WhatsApp has borrowed a feature from Instagram. Previously, WhatsApp introduced an option to react to messages with emojis and even added the ability to use whatever emoji the user wants, just like Instagram.