WhatsApp seems to be keeping up with users’ desire to be more connected by testing a new functionality called “Recently Online” for a select group of iOS users in the beta version of the app. This feature provides a look at contacts who have been recently active on the app, but does not provide a real-time view of everyone logged in.
Basically, when you want to start a new conversation or make a call, you’ll see a list of people who have been online recently, helping you figure out who might be available for a quick chat. According to WaBetaInfo, the site that discovered this feature, your existing privacy settings will also influence this list “Recently Online”. Thus, contacts who hide their status “Last Seen” or online will not appear in this list.
The anticipated benefit of this new feature is increased user interaction; people might be more motivated to initiate conversations if they see that a contact has just been active on the app. This small boost is a tactic often used by social media platforms to keep users connected longer, encouraging more frequent interactions.
Although “Recently Online” is still in the testing phase for a small group of beta iOS users, it is very likely that this functionality will become available to all iOS WhatsApp users soon. It is also important to note that a similar feature was recently rolled out for Android beta testers, indicating WhatsApp’s intention to extend this functionality to both platforms.
