Mark Zuckerberg Confirms New WhatsApp Feature Starts Rolling Out Today

Mark Zuckerberg has revealed an exciting new feature set to become available on WhatsApp today.

While Twitter is in the process of being taken over by Elon Musk - its users and employees left divided over the potential changes the Tesla CEO could bring to the social networking platform - Zuckerberg has been making some changes of his own.

The Meta co-founder has taken to Facebook to announce the new changes coming to WhatsApp messaging service today, Thursday, 5 May.

Similarly to Facebook and LinkedIn - yes, for all of you who don't fall down an Instagram hole but have more professional social media addictions - you will now be able to react to messages with a series of emojis.

Zuckerberg stated: "Reactions on WhatsApp start rolling out today"

The reactions the magnate included in the post feature the thumb emoji, heart, laughing face, surprised face, sad crying face and prayer hands.

He added: "We're including [prayer hands] to help spread thanks and appreciation. More expressions coming soon."

WhatsApp users have since flooded to the post with varying reactions to the news.

One joked: "Did you get any call from Mr. Elon Musk? Get ready."

A user from Bangladesh claimed the new feature isn't working for them, however, calling on Zuckerberg to fix it.

"But it's been there in Kenya for the last two weeks. Or you want to tell us we hacked it?" another user replied.

A third claimed the update doesn't work for Apple users and that Zuckerberg was 'punishing' them 'as always'.

A final admitted: "Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't use WhatsApp."

As well as being able to react directly to messages, opposed to having to send an emoji in a separate message, WhatsApp has also revealed plans to allow users to send larger file sizes.

The max file size used to be set at 100MB at one time, however now WhatsAppers will be able to share files up to 2GB.

The amount of people who can fit onto a conference call has also been raised to 32, having previously stood at eight users. Calls of which 'you can start with just one tap,' according to head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart.

"We’ll do all of this and more with end-to-end encryption because workplaces, organisations, and close-knit groups deserve strong security and shouldn’t have to give up their private communications," he explained.

Cathcart also noted how 'Communities' will be coming to the app later in the year ' to support the many organisations that use WhatsApp to communicate in a private and secure way'.

He continued: "Communities will make it possible for admins to organise groups under one umbrella, send announcements, and decide which groups can be part of their community to help make group conversations work for their organisation."

The Head of WhatsApp also noted that within the new emoji reaction update there are more 'emojis and skin-tones [yet] to come'.

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Topics: Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, Social Media

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.