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With each update, WhatsApp introduces a slew of new features. While some features are undoubtedly helpful, others simply add to the noise. Here are seven WhatsApp features that I find unnecessary and why it’s time for WhatsApp to reconsider their inclusion.
1WhatsApp Statuses
Originally popularized by platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, stories allow users to share photos and videos that vanish after 24 hours. But when WhatsApp introduced its own stories feature called Status, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
Do we really need another platform for temporary content? If I wanted to keep up with everyone’s daily updates, I’d stick to social media platforms specifically designed for that.
With WhatsApp, my primary need is simply to communicate with friends and family—not to scroll through a barrage of fleeting updates that I have little interest in or have already seen on other platforms.
That’s why I hope WhatsApp reconsiders this feature and returns to its roots as a no-frills messaging app, free from the distractions of stories. Until then, I’ll be using workarounds toblock WhatsApp’s Status featureon my phone.
2Instant Video Messages
One of my favorite features on WhatsApp is voice notes. I use it all the time to quickly share thoughts, updates, or just to check in with friends. In 2023, the company introduced the ability tosend instant video messages on WhatsApp, instead of typing or recording audio alone. While I get the appeal of conveying emotion and tone through video, I find video messages largely unnecessary on WhatsApp.
Honestly, when I first heard about this feature, I thought it might enhance communication. After all, seeing someone’s face while they speak adds a personal touch. But in practice, it feels a bit awkward and cumbersome. Even though recording video messages is quick and straightforward, I often find myself worrying about how I look or how I’m coming across.
The beauty of messaging lies in its simplicity, and Instant Video Messages complicate that. Because of this, I tend to stick to voice notes or the good old typing method while communicating on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Channelsare meant to facilitate one-way communication from creators, brands, or influencers to their followers. My issue with this feature is that it makes WhatsApp feel more like a social media platform and less like a messaging app. The last thing I want is to sift through a sea of the same content that creators have already posted on other platforms.
Sure, WhatsApp Channels appear separately from my personal and group chats in theUpdatestab and don’t send notifications by default, but their presence still feels intrusive. To me, Channels blur the line between messaging and broadcasting, transforming my app into a platform for unsolicited content. That’s why I wish WhatsApp would remove them altogether.
4Communities
One feature I’ve never quite understood is WhatsApp Communities. While the idea behind Communities is to bring together multiple groups under one umbrella, I find that it often leads to confusion rather than clarity.
For starters, navigating between different groups within a community feels like extra work. Each community can host multiple sub-groups, and with so many conversations happening simultaneously, it becomes a struggle to keep track of which group is discussing what. The sheer volume of alerts can easily drown out the messages that actually matter to me.
Unlike WhatsApp Channels, Communities appear directly within the Chats tab, making it difficult for me to ignore them. I wish WhatsApp would focus on enhancing existing group chat functionalities rather than adding another layer of complexity with Communities. In the meantime, if you’re part of multiple groups and Communities, you may take steps tokeep those annoying WhatsApp notifications under control.
While Meta’s introduction of Avatars makes perfect sense on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, I find myself questioning the necessity of having avatars in a messaging app like WhatsApp.
On social media, where people curate their identities and share diverse content, avatars can enhance the experience. However, on WhatsApp—where my connections are more personal and direct—I don’t feel the need for an animated version of myself to convey emotions or thoughts.
With Avatars, it feels like WhatsApp is merely trying to capitalize on the latest social media trends of customizable profiles and virtual identities. However, for me, this concept feels out of place. I enjoy using avatars on other platforms where they serve a purpose, but in the context of WhatsApp, they seem unnecessary and even somewhat distracting.
6Catalogs and In-Chat Shopping
WhatsApp’s catalog function allows businesses to showcase their products directly on their profiles. However, the concept ofshopping on WhatsAppfeels somewhat off, more so than other features like stories or communities.
While some may find the convenience of shopping directly from a messaging app appealing, the integration seems out of place to me. It feels as if WhatsApp is attempting to be everything for everyone, but in doing so, it detracts from the core functionality that initially drew me to the app.
What frustrates me the most is that this feature diverts attention from what WhatsApp was originally meant to be: a messaging app. I believe WhatsApp would be better off without adding the complexity of catalogs and in-chat shopping to the user experience.
7Payment Integration
To facilitate the shopping experience, WhatsApp has also introduced payment integration, allowing users to make payments to registered businesses in Brazil, Singapore, and my home country, India. This feature enables me to transfer money to friends and family as well. However, even if I were inclined to use this feature, I doubt I would ever feel the same level of comfort and security as I do with a dedicated banking app or payment service.
The idea of using WhatsApp for payments feels risky, especially when I consider the potential for fraud and data breaches. For something as crucial as my financial information, I prefer to stick with platforms specifically designed for handling financial transactions.
In my view, an app like WhatsApp should steer clear of the realm of financial transactions. I would much rather see it prioritize enhancing user privacy and security within the messaging service than attempt to compete in a space that is already well-served by established financial apps.
WhatsApp began as a straightforward messaging platform and its simplicity is what made it appealing. However, it now feels cluttered with features that aren’t essential for an instant messaging service. That’s why I hope WhatsApp will take a step back to reconsider and potentially remove some of these non-essential features.
