In July last year, WhatsApp introduced the Instant Video Notes feature that allowed users to instantly record and share videos with friends and family. This new way to connect was a welcome move as there are times when we want to say things that just aren’t enough in the form of a text message. Now, WhatsApp is adding more functionalities to improve video message interactions. As part of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.14.5 update available on the Google Play Store, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that will let users quickly respond to instant video messages, reports WA Beta Info.

According to the screenshots shared by the publication, a new shortcut has started appearing next to the video message for some beta testers who installed the latest app version. This shortcut streamlines the reply process, allowing users to respond to specific video messages more efficiently. Previously, users had to manually reply by opening the message menu or using a gesture before recording a new video. With this update, replying to video messages is faster and more convenient, as users can quickly reply to a video message by simply tapping the shortcut.

The quick reply feature for instant video messages is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta update for Android from the Google Play Store and will be rolled out to more users in the coming days.

This is not the only feature WhatsApp is working on. A recent report said that the Meta-owned platform is rolling out a new preview feature for status updates. The feature aims to offer a more streamlined and engaging way to view updates.

A previous report by WA Beta Info said that the new status update preview feature appears as thumbnails on the right side of the screen for users who follow channels. This design maintains a streamlined updates tab using a horizontal layout. For users who don’t follow any channels, WhatsApp has introduced a vertical list for status updates, which now includes a redesigned thumbnail that previews status updates while retaining the profile photo. This change addresses a previous issue where profile photos were replaced by previews, making it more difficult to identify contacts at a glance.

In the previous update, users could preview status updates in a vertical list, but this feature replaced the profile photo, complicating the process of quickly identifying contacts. The latest update addresses this problem by placing thumbnails alongside profile photos, providing a more informative and visually appealing preview.

As these new features are released, it will be interesting to see how users react to these changes and if they increase their engagement within the app.