On February 16, 2026, WhatsApp announced a new feature aimed at enhancing user experience by integrating status updates directly into the app's top bar. This change allows users to view the status of their most frequently contacted friends without leaving the chat tab. According to reports from both Pakistan News Index and Hum News, the feature is currently in the testing phase, with no confirmed release date yet. "Users will be able to see the statuses of those they chat with the most at the top of the chat tab," which is expected to streamline the process of accessing status updates (Pakistan News Index). The company is experimenting with various designs to improve accessibility, including a potential scrolling feature to display contacts' statuses in a row (Hum News).