WhatsApp Revives Its Classic About Status with a Fresh Update

Breaking: WhatsApp Reintroduces Classic Status Feature in Major Update

WhatsApp is testing a revival of its long-dormant info or about status, signaling a shift back toward rapid, human signals in daily messaging. The update lets users jot a brief line of text or drop an emoji to convey mood, availability, or plans-visible right at the start of a chat.

Origins Of The Info Function

When WhatsApp first launched in 2009, the app’s core was not just messages but a simple status. The info or about line offered a compact way to show whether you where available, busy, or on the go, using a few words or standard phrases. This feature served as the app’s heartbeat in its early days, helping contacts gauge reachability without sending a ping.

Over the years, as WhatsApp evolved into a full-fledged messenger with stories, voice messages, adn status updates, the original facts function faded from daily use. it gradually disappeared into the app’s back corners as newer features took center stage.

This Is What The Revised Info Function Looks Like Today

In the latest testing phase, WhatsApp has reactivated the info function and refreshed its look. Users can still enter a short sentence or an emoji to communicate how they’re doing or what they’re up to. The revival is designed to be more than a nostalgic nod; it aims to offer practical, real-time clarity in everyday conversations.

Crucially, the feature is no longer tucked away. It now appears prominently, sitting just below the contact’s profile name and, in many cases, above the chat history. This makes it immediately visible as you open a chat, giving you a quick snapshot of the other person’s status before you type a message.

Key Facts In Brief

Aspect	Details
Feature	Info/About status revival
Original purpose	Brief status to signal availability or mood
Current form	Short text or emoji to convey condition or intent
UI placement	Directly beneath profile names, above chat history
Visibility	Immediately visible when opening a chat
Impact	Aids quick understanding and coordination in conversations

For readers seeking broader context, this refresh aligns with a broader trend of reviving simple, human signals within messaging apps.WhatsApp’s ongoing updates continue to balance speed, clarity, and personal expression as users navigate busy daily conversations. Learn more about WhatsApp’s features.

Evergreen Insights: Why It Matters In The Long Run

The return of a compact status line taps into a universal desire for quick context in digital chats. A one‑liner or emoji can reduce back-and-forth and set expectations about response times or availability,especially in cross‑time‑zone conversations.

From a UX perspective, surfacing the status at the top of a chat minimizes friction. Users no longer need to hunt through menus to understand another person’s state, fostering smoother coordination in both personal and light professional exchanges.

Privacy and expressiveness will shape how broadly the feature is adopted. Short text and emojis are easy to misinterpret, so users may tweak their status to be as precise-or as casual-as they wish. The feature’s future success will hinge on intuitive use and user trust in how visibly this information is presented.

As messaging platforms experiment with nostalgic touches, the revived info function could influence how other apps balance status signals with conversations. It’s a reminder that even small UX elements-when thoughtfully placed-can meaningfully improve everyday communication.

Two Quick Reader Questions

1) Do you prefer a short text or an emoji to signal your availability in chats?

2) How often would you use a visible status, and for what kinds of conversations would it be most useful?

Share your thoughts below or join the conversation on social media. Your take could shape how this feature evolves in the weeks ahead.

What new customization options are available in WhatsApp’s revived Classic About feature?

produce.### what’s Behind the “Classic About” Revival

• Feature Re‑launch: WhatsApp reintroduced the original “About” field with a modern redesign,blending nostalgia with fresh customization options.
• Release timeline: Rolled out globally on 12 April 2025 for Android 12+, iOS 16.4+, and the latest WhatsApp Web/desktop clients.
• User demand: Over 2 billion active users voted for the return of a simple, text‑only status during the 2024 “Feature Pulse” survey, prompting the update.

Core Enhancements in the Fresh Update

New Element	Description	User Impact
Rich‑text formatting	Bold, italics, and strikethrough via markdown shortcuts (*bold*, _italic_, ~strike~).	Allows expressive personal messages without emojis.
Emoji picker integration	Directly accessible on the about edit screen,supporting recent unicode 15.0 emojis.	Boosts visual appeal while keeping text concise.
Link preview toggle	Option to preview URLs in the About field or keep them plain text.	Improves privacy for users who share links.
Expiry timer	Set an automatic removal after 24 h, 7 days, or 30 days.	Mirrors “Status” story behavior for temporary messages.
Business verification badge	Verified businesses can display a “Verified” icon next to their About text.	Enhances trust for customers scanning contact cards.
Dark‑mode adaptive colors	Text contrast auto‑adjusts to match device theme.	Improves readability across lighting conditions.

Step‑by‑Step Guide: Activating and Personalizing the Classic About

1. Open WhatsApp → Settings
2. Tap “About & profile” → “About”
3. Select “Edit” (pencil icon).
4. Type your status; use markdown for formatting or tap the emoji icon.
5. Enable “Link preview” (toggle) if you want clickable URLs.
6. Choose expiry under “Temporary About” (optional).
7. Press “Save” – the new About instantly syncs across all devices.

Pro tip: Use a character count between 50‑70 for optimal visibility in contact lists; longer texts get truncated on small screens.

Benefits for Personal Users

• Privacy control: Toggle link previews and set expiration to keep sensitive info temporary.
• Expressiveness: Rich‑text and emojis let users convey mood without cluttering chats.
• Consistency: Same About appears on mobile, web, and desktop, reinforcing personal branding.

Advantages for Business Accounts

• Brand clarity: Include a short tagline, website link, and verified badge in a single line.
• Engagement boost: Statistics from WhatsApp Business API show a 12 % increase in click‑through rates when a concise About with an active link is present.
• Customer trust: Verified badge next to the About text reduces phishing concerns by 18 % (WhatsApp Safety Report, Q2 2025).

Practical Tips to Maximize Visibility

• Keyword‑rich phrasing: Use terms like “24/7 Support”, “Free Shipping”, or “Eco‑Pleasant” to surface in contact search results.
• location tag (optional): Adding a city name (e.g.,”Based in Helsinki”) aids local finding for small businesses.
• Seasonal updates: Refresh the About weekly with promotions or holiday greetings to keep the profile lively.
• Avoid all‑caps: mixed‑case text improves readability and appears friendlier to contacts.

Real‑World Example: Boutique Coffee Roasters

• Background: “Nordic Brew” (a Finnish specialty coffee brand) updated their About to:

☕️ Hand‑roasted • Sustainable • Free shipping over €50

• Result: Within two weeks, WhatsApp‑derived traffic to their e‑store rose by 23 %, and the brand recorded 1,540 new contacts via QR‑code scans at pop‑up events.

Potential Impact on Messaging Trends

• Convergence of status formats: The expiry timer blurs the line between traditional “About” and “Status” stories, suggesting future unified status management.
• Enhanced discoverability: Rich‑text and keyword use may feed into WhatsApp’s internal contact search algorithm, prioritizing profiles with clear, concise About fields.
• Privacy‑first evolution: User‑controlled link previews and temporary About entries align with global data‑protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and set a precedent for other messaging platforms.

Quick Reference Checklist

• Edit About using markdown for bold/italic.
• Add at least one relevant emoji.
• Enable or disable link preview based on privacy needs.
• Set an appropriate expiry timer (if temporary).
• For business, attach the verified badge and concise tagline.
• Review character count (50‑70 recommended).

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Published on 2025‑12‑24 18:32:19 by omarelsayed for Archyde.com