WHATSAPP is reportedly adding a ‘double tap’ feature that allows users to emoji-react more quickly to messages.
But users fear that it could have “embarrassing” results.
The feature, spotted by WABetaInfo, lets users “heart” or “cry face” a message simply by double tapping it.
It is similar to how most other social media platforms – such as Meta-owned Instagram – allows users to react to content.
It’s currently in development for Android users – so it’s unclear when it will be ready to roll out to all two billion WhatsApp users.
However, it will apparently be impossible to disable it.
Eagle-eyed researchers at WABetaInfo, who scour the beta versions of WhatsApp for new features, noted there was not a toggle to disable the feature in settings.
A beta version of software is the version of the software that is made available for testing.
Almost every new piece of software will have one, be it WhatsApp or Apple’s upcoming iOS 18.
It is accessible to beta testers, who are usually experienced tech users who stress-test new software to uncover any errors or bugs.
They make sure software is useable before it gets rolled out to the wider population.
In a post on Reddit, one WhatsApp user called the new ‘double tap’ feature “revolutionary”.
But several users agreed that it may only lead to “awkward” mistakes.
“I don’t like this,” one user wrote.
“It’s so easy to accidentally double tap, and I’m sure it would be embarrassing to react to certain messages.
“At least it’s not as bad as Snapchat. It’s easy to accidentally react to someone’s location on the snap map, which is really awkward.”
Another added: “Cool something else to do accidentally.”
Other onlookers, however, called for WhatsApp to start building completely different features altogether.
Some are wanting Meta’s WhatsApp to copy rival Telegram in introducing scheduled messaging, which would allow messages to send after the user had written them.
This can be handy for birthday messages to arrive one minute after midnight when you’re sleeping, or for work contacts to be alerted that you’re on annual leave.
A quick edit feature was also requested, with users interested in a ‘swipe left’ navigation that would allow them to rewrite messages.
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