If you’re like me and often read a message, tell yourself you’ll reply later, and then instantly forget about it, a new WhatsApp experiment might bring the solution.
New feature has presets and custom options
According to recent findings by WABetaInfo (via Tecnoblog), WhatsApp is now testing a feature that lets users set reminders for specific messages.
So rather than pinning chats, starring messages, or simply hoping to remember to check back later, users can schedule an actual notification to be reminded of a specific message.
WABetaInfo discovered the feature embedded in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android. The feature allows the user to long-press on any message, tap “Remind me,” and choose between 2 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, or a custom timer to be alerted about it.
Once a reminder is set, the message gets a small bell icon in the corner, making it easier to spot in the middle of an active conversation. When the timer elapses, WhatsApp sends a notification with a “🔔Reminder” tag, showing the message content, the chat it came from, and a preview of whether it includes media, just like a regular notification.
App also working on proactive reminders
WABetaInfo notes that WhatsApp is also testing a way to notify users about unread messages from frequent contacts:
“This feature allows WhatsApp to occasionally send notifications highlighting unread messages from contacts they interact with most frequently. This is useful in situations where a user is busy managing multiple conversations and unintentionally overlooks a message from someone they interact with often.”
Like with all beta features, there is no ETA for its launch, but we’ll keep an eye out for when the app expands these tests to iOS.
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