WhatsApp‘s new update reminds users if they haven’t checked their friends’ statuses or messages. Courtesy of Wabetainfo, the social media app has reportedly been testing the feature since September and is now available through its beta program.
Whatsapp rolls out un
Users who want to test the feature can open WhatsApp, go into Settings, Notifications, and then toggle Reminders. Once on, users begin receiving reminder notifications for unseen Status updates and messages.
Previously, reminders were limited to status updates from specific contacts automatically selected by WhatsApp. The reminder feature expands this to unread messages from frequent contacts. The selection is decided by the app’s internal algorithm, which prioritises users’ closest contacts. It’s worth noting to readers that the algorithm only applies to the current instance of WhatsApp. If the app is deleted and reinstalled, the algorithm is rewritten from scratch, since this data is not saved in backups or servers.
The feature allows users to remain in touch with their closest contacts even when they’re incapable of staying up to date with their friends and families’ life updates. Anyone concerned about the possibility of being overwhelmed by notifications doesn’t have to worry, as the algorithm is designed to operate on a semi-regular basis.
Users may also receive notifications if they’ve left (mistakenly or not) a frequent contact on read. The user may receive a reminder notification if the user frequently engages with a contact but is distracted by other chats.
The reminder feature is currently available for Android users through Whatsapp’s beta program on the Google Play Store. A more general rollout will follow in the coming weeks.
