WhatsApp Enhances Status Updates with New Music Feature
The update, rolling out globally on Android and iOS, introduces a dynamic way to personalize disappearing 24-hour posts, aligning WhatsApp with platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
WhatsApp launches music feature for status updates, boosting user creativity. Photo/The Verge.
By Samuel Sitati
On May 1, 2025, WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging giant, launched a vibrant new feature allowing users to add background music to their status updates, transforming how its 500 million daily users express themselves.
The update, rolling out globally on Android and iOS, introduces a dynamic way to personalize disappearing 24-hour posts, aligning WhatsApp with platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
The feature is simple yet engaging: users can tap a music note icon while creating a status, select a track from Meta’s extensive music library, and overlay it onto photos, videos, or text.
With support for a wide range of popular songs and curated mood-based playlists, users can preview tracks and choose specific segments to match their vibe. This addition aims to boost emotional engagement, making statuses more lively and reflective of users’ personalities.
As one X post enthused, “Adding music to WhatsApp status is a game-changer for sharing moods!”
Introduced in 2017, WhatsApp Status has grown into a major avenue for self-expression, rivaling Instagram Stories. The new music feature is part of Meta’s strategy to equip users with creative tools and keep WhatsApp competitive in the social media landscape.
While the company has not confirmed plans for user-uploaded music or integration with streaming services like Spotify, the current library offers millions of licensed tracks, ensuring broad appeal. A WhatsApp blog post noted, “Find the perfect song for every moment, from top hits to earworms stuck in your head
The rollout, which began today, is expected to reach all users in the coming weeks. Unlike Instagram’s similar feature, WhatsApp’s music statuses are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring only selected contacts can view them, preserving the app’s privacy focus. This has sparked excitement, with users on X praising the feature’s seamless integration: “High energy or lo-fi chill? Music on status nails it!”
As WhatsApp continues to evolve, this update underscores its shift toward multimedia engagement while maintaining its core messaging identity. With Kenya’s 12 million WhatsApp users among those set to explore this feature, the app is poised to deepen its role in daily communication and creative expression across the continent and beyond.
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