WhatsApp is returning back to its roots by launching Status. When WhatApp was introduced, it was a simple app whose only function was to let users know what they are up to in the form of away messages. But as technology evolved and people starting using the app, more functionalities got added which made it one of the prominent messaging apps globally. Now WhatsApp is rolling out another feature Status through which users will be able to send images and videos to their contacts. The visual content will stay be visible for 24 hours and then disappear.
WhatsApp Status is very similar to SnapChat Stories in which users are able to send images, GIF’s and even short videos to their network members which are visible for 24 hours. This isn’t the first time that SnapChat’s features have been adopted by different platforms. Last year, Instagram also introduced Instagram Stories, similar to what SnapChat. Both WhatsApp and Instagram are owned by Facebook and the company is continually adding different features to its platforms.
This development will definitely be a cause of concern for SnapChat, as in its recent IPO filing, the company could not show off impressive growth figures. After the introduction of Instagram Stories, the growth rate for SnapChat reduced to 3.2% in the fourth quarter as compared to 17.2% in the second quarter of the same year. One of the reasons for this is that Instagram is quite diverse and has many features, an aspect that SnapChat lacks.
WhatsApp at the moment has 1.2 billion users and approximately 60 billion messages are sent daily. In countries where the SnapChat has been unable to make its space, there is a greater chance for users to adopt this feature there as they will not have to get an additional app to do just that.
Saying that WhatsApp copied a feature from SnapChat wouldn’t be wrong. What will matter at a longer run is how both the companies are moving ahead with their respective services that they provide. If they fail to evolve and give users something new and a greater chance of engagement, they will end up using that platform.
