WHATSAPP has launched a new Status update, which allows for a new tab for sharing decorated photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. WhatsApp users can watch updates from friends and reply privately, shoot and draw on their imagery with drawings and captions and send their creations to all their contacts they’ve chosen with a privacy setting.

The new Status feature replaces WhatsApp’s old feature when it launched almost exactly eight years ago (see below).

The newest update includes a Snapchat story-like feature, which allows users to update their status using pictures, GIF’s and videos. You can tap on the status tab and see who, and how many people have viewed your status, just like Instagram. There are options to delete or forward the status as well. Additionally, when you are viewing your friends’ updates you can swipe up and reply to them as well, similar to Instagram.

Here’s a video to help you make sense of the update:

WhatsApp has also introduced privacy settings as well to control who can see your status, as you can see from the picture below.