After Instagram And Messenger, WhatsApp Is Copying Snapchat Now Too

Facebook has done it again. After its Instagram app copied Snapchat Stories and gained 100 million users as a result and sneakily tried to do the same thing in Poland with Messenger, the biggest social media entity in the world has roped WhatsApp into the copycat game. In a quiet new beta test, the messaging app is getting something called “Status” that also has a limited lifespan.

Much like Snapchat’s “Stories,” users can send pictures or short videos using “Status” and they will disappear after 24 hours, Mashable reports. The media can also be shared to all of the friends of the users or only a select few. Even photos from libraries can be uploaded using the feature and then doodling on them, which is also something that can be done with Snapchat.

The service is in beta right now, but it’s only reserved for a limited number of people. For starters, one would have to be an actual beta tester. Anyone who is interested in trying it out would also need an iPhone that’s already jailbroken or a rooted Android device. Those who don’t fall under any of those categories won’t be able to use “Status” until WhatsApp decides to make it public at some point.

There are a few things to take note of when using the feature, including the lack of control with regards to manually deleting post, Tech Crunch reports. Users also won’t be able to set for how long or how short the posts should stay up. They will last for up to 24 hours and there’s no way to change that.

Aside from finally having a way to hook younger users, copying Snapchat can also be a way for Facebook to monetize WhatsApp. Generally speaking, the social network is still looking at ads to get revenue, but that route risks the annoyance of users. With “Status,” Facebook finally has a way of inserting ads into the user experience discreetly.