WhatsApp is running a new feature test in Ghana that repositions Status updates — the app’s 24-hour disappearing photo and video posts — to the top of the Chats tab, the first screen most users see when they open the app.
The test is small and limited, but its implications are significant.
Testing in Ghana
The company cited the country’s strong WhatsApp community and the quality of feedback it expects from local users as the primary reasons for selecting it as the test market.
Ghana and Nigeria have repeatedly served as testing grounds for Meta products aimed at markets where WhatsApp functions less as a messaging add-on and more as a primary communications infrastructure.
What the Test Actually Looks Like
In the current test, a tray of Status updates appears at the top of the Chats tab, showing organic updates from your contacts only.
The Status tray can be minimized by swiping down, and individual contacts’ updates can be hidden at any time.
What Comes Next
Meta hasn’t announced a timeline for broader rollout, and the company is framing this as an exploratory test rather than a confirmed product direction. The outcome in Ghana will likely shape whether — and how — the feature gets refined before any wider release.
