WhatsApp to Introduce Double-Tap Message Reactions
WhatsApp to Introduce Double-Tap Message Reactions WhatsApp is set to launch a new feature: double-tap message reactions. This feature, already familiar to users of Instagram DMs, is being integrated into WhatsApp, borrowing from its sister Meta app.
Currently, the feature is being tested on Android devices through the latest beta build. To access it, users need to join the beta channel for WhatsApp on Android via the Play Store, although availability is often limited due to high demand.
The new double-tap reaction feature allows users to quickly add a reaction to any message with a simple double-tap. This includes photos, videos, and GIFs, all of which can be reacted to directly from the media viewer screen. This change aims to streamline the process by eliminating the need to long-press and then select a reaction, saving valuable time.
By default, double-tapping will add a heart emoji, similar to Instagram’s implementation. For reactions with different emojis, users will still need to long-press on the message to access the reaction tray and select their preferred emoji.
One noteworthy aspect of this update is that there will be no option to disable the double-tap reaction feature. This might lead to unintended reactions on older messages while scrolling through chat histories.
With the feature now in beta testing, it is expected to become widely available in the coming weeks or months.