WhatsApp's Status feature has double the daily users of Snapchat

WhatsApp’s Status feature, the messaging app’s version of Snapchat Stories, now has 450 million daily users. This is more than double the 191 million daily users that Snapchat recorded during the first quarter of 2018. These numbers were announced during the Facebook F8 conference and reported by TechCrunch.

WhatsApp first launched the ability to create video status updates in March 2017. The main differences between WhatsApp Status and Snapchat Stories are that only your contacts can see the stories on WhatsApp, and, like the rest of the app, Status is encrypted.

Given its short history, the number of people using WhatsApp Status on a daily basis is quite impressive. However, it is worth remembering that when the feature was released WhatsApp already had a huge customer base. This meant it was easier for the company to get its Status feature in front of a large audience. Nonetheless, it shows that WhatsApp was perhaps right to add the feature when it saw the chance to.

The number of Status users wasn’t the only WhatsApp announcement made at the F8 conference. Facebook also unveiled two new features for the app. The most exciting addition is probably the new group video call feature. In the coming months, users will be able to make split screen video calls with four, or possibly more, other users.

WhatsApp will soon bring sticker packs to the app. As well as making your conversations more expressive, stickers might help WhatsApp to monetize the service.

The announcements come soon after WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum exited the company, after an alleged dispute with Facebook over data privacy issues.

Of course, WhatsApp was not the only Facebook-owned company given the spotlight at the F8 conference. Facebook also announced the release of the Oculus Go standalone VR headset, a new dating service for Facebook, and a video chat feature on Instagram.

Next up: WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum to exit Facebook over alleged data privacy dispute