What’s up with WhatsApp status?

‘A stitch in time saves nine’

The other evening, as I was returning from work and resting on my favourite gray couch under the dim lights, I realised that, at most times, WhatsApp status goes hand in hand with emotions and moods.

This came about when the woman in my house suddenly asked me if I had viewed her status. Honestly, I view status updates at all times, but I did not know how this slipped my mind. Maybe because she rarely updates hers. Little did I know that it was my unlucky evening.

So, just as I was about to view it, my phone blacked out, but I asked her if I could view it from her phone. She showed it to me, and it was a special message for only me. Her husband. I promised myself to review it once my phone had charged because I liked the message. However, within seconds, she deleted it.

When I asked why she deleted it, she claimed that I had not viewed it yet since noon. “It was 12.33 pm when I updated it,” she said.

Wow! It amazed me how she even crammed the time in. Therefore, I tried to explain to her how I was caught up with work, but with no gain. I wished I had seen it before as they say ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’

Later on, I also updated a beautiful message for her. It was genuine. It was not because I was trying to give in to a kind of payback thing.

It was more of an appreciation token for who she is. I waited for her comment for twenty-four good hours without deleting it but she did not say anything.

I also kept checking the list of those who had viewed my status, but she was not among them. Should I have complained too?

I would have if I had wanted, but No! Sometimes I just do not feel like it or I take her complaints positively and incredibly healthy because maybe it is her way of caring.

I have told her several times how good she looks when she acts childish because she makes me feel I am dealing with a daughter.

‘New technology to announce special occasions’

Talking about WhatsApp status, this reminds me of how people these days use the technology to alert everyone in their contacts that they are celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and many other occasions.

“I update my WhatsApp status only when there are special occasions. In addition, many of us use such technology to let others know of an occurrence of a birth or a death in the family. So, in this way, we don’t have to send out individual messages,” my cousin’s best friend told me.

He also said he enjoys how he posts one thing and within seconds, he sees hundreds have already viewed it. “Some will ignore, others will comment and a good number of people will ask questions,” he said. However, I was too shy to ask him what he gained from the process.

This thing has become an entertainment for others too. The moment you access their status, you start to laugh.

The look on status does little to hide the expectation; that of a funny post. Every time they post something, they are sure to get a number of eager viewers. It does not matter whether their posts are true or false, what matters to them is to make you laugh.

For those who do not know, WhatsApp Status is a feature that allows you to post status updates that disappear after 24 hours. You can share photos, videos, text, links, and GIFs.

If you know how to use Instagram Stories, you will feel right at home and you will quickly pick up how to check a friend’s WhatsApp Status and update your own.

By default, WhatsApp Status only activates between two users who have each other’s contact details saved in their respective address books. If you do not have someone’s number in your contacts, they cannot see your status message.

Till then...