WhatsApp beta rolls out a “Recently Online” feature to help you keep track of your friends and family

It didn’t take long for WhatsApp to replace other text messaging apps, and turn into our go-to tool for day-to-day communication. Whether it is work or family, they say it’s not official until there’s a WhatsApp group for it! In fact, the instant messaging smartphone app today can do a lot more than just exchange conversations for you and has transitioned far from a messaging app. 

In another move to improve user experience, the Meta-owned platform has introduced a ‘Recently Online’ feature to ensure you don’t have to wonder about your close friends. While the functionality was spotted in a beta test, WhatsApp may soon roll it out for a larger user base as well. Here’s everything you might want to know.

WhatsApp "Recently Online:" How the feature works

According to WhatsApp, the “Recently Online” feature will provide a quicker way for users to connect with their friends or family. The feature was first reported by WABetainfo, who stated that it is currently available for Android users with version 2.24.9.14. 

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The company plans to add a new feature within the app interface which will display contacts who were recently using WhatsApp and can be connected with for a quick conversation. The feature, however, won’t highlight all contacts and will only display a few. It isn’t clear how the platform chooses to show your recently online contacts as of yet; that said, you will be shown a random list, particularly when you’re about to place a call. 

There is also no clarity on if you can switch this feature off for yourself. However, WhatsApp feels as though it can be the nudge you need to connect with your peers within a sea of contacts. Helpful or not, the feature will surely give a lot of us another way to figure out when it may be a good time to text our crush!