While Gen Z extensively uses Instagram Stories, WhatsApp Status has become one of the most used features of the app by the older generation. Similar to stories, it lets you share your exciting life moments with your WhatsApp contacts for 24 hours. But it doesn't allow you to tag others on your status, something you could do in Instagram Stories for the longest time.

WhatsApp is now fixing this with the upcoming "username" feature that will allow you to tag contacts in your status updates.

As reported by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta version 2.24.6.19 on Android hints at a new option to allow users to mention their contacts in Status Updates. This means that you will soon be able to mention specific contacts who are part of what you shared on your status or want to dedicate the status to them. No, your phone number is unlikely to be shown to others; they will only see a username that you choose when the feature is rolled out.

As shown in the screenshot above, you will receive a notification when someone mentions you in a status. You can tap it to see the status. The notification in the screenshot also says "You were mentioned privately." This means that other users viewing the post may not be able to see who was mentioned in it. There may also be a way to privately or publicly mention users; the details are unknown at the time of writing.