Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
long story short
- WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you post longer 60-second videos on your status.
- Viewers will need to update to the latest version of the app to use this feature.
Inspired by Instagram Stories, WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to share longer videos in status updates. Currently, the platform limits video status uploads to 30 seconds, forcing users to edit longer clips.
Beta Information Western Australia The feature was discovered in the latest Android WhatsApp beta version (2.24.7.6). As of now, the extended video feature is only available to a limited number of testers. Additionally, viewing these longer statuses requires users to use the latest version of WhatsApp.
Over the past few years, Instagram has increased the length of videos in its Stories from 15 seconds to a full minute, and now WhatsApp has followed suit. The change should allow users to share longer snippets of their lives and create more detailed narratives.
While some people may welcome being able to share more of their status, there is a potential downside to consider. With shorter video clips, impatient viewers (like me) can choose to quickly browse through their friends’ updates and skip anything that doesn’t immediately catch their attention. Watching a minute-long video to see what your aunt is doing might be a bit much.
As beta testing of this feature is ongoing, WhatsApp may take some time to collect feedback and resolve any issues before releasing the update to everyone. We expect to officially launch it to the wider public soon.