In its latest update through the Google Play Beta program (2.24.20.3), WhatsApp will allow users to tag their contacts in status posts. The feature, already well known to those who use Instagram, is available to the app's beta testers.
Mentioning contacts is a seemingly simple function, which consists of simply selecting a user in the status and tagging them. To do this, simply access the status publishing area and look for an at icon (@) in the bottom right corner, next to the send button. There, simply select the desired contact and publish the material.
When notified, the tagged contact will receive a notification and a message in the chat with the person who tagged them, very similar to Instagram. However, only the person tagged in the status will know that they have been selected, since their name or number will not appear to other viewers of the content.
Tagged users are not exposed in posts.Source: WABetaInfo/Reproduction
Contacts will always be notified
Another interesting detail is that all tagged contacts will receive the notification regardless of whether they have been excluded from the viewing options of the person who posted the status. This also applies to those users who use a higher privacy setting, ensuring that regardless of the context, they will always be notified.
If the tagged person finds the content important or relevant, they can still share the content quickly with the help of a specific button. However, the identity of the creator of the original post will be hidden.
Already available to some users of the WhatsApp and Google Play test programs, status tagging should be rolled out to everyone soon.