You can now share WhatsApp Status updates as Facebook Stories
After months of beta testing, WhatsApp has released the ability to let users share their statuses to Facebook. The feature comes with the latest stable release of the messaging service and can also be used for sending statuses to other platforms, including Instagram, Gmail, and Google Photos. Here's all you need to know about the capability and its working.
New 'Share to Facebook Story' button
In the latest iteration of WhatsApp, you would find a new 'Share to Facebook Story' button in the status tab, the place where users share Instagram Story-like ephemeral images, text, and videos. The option appears soon after sharing status and provides the way to post the same content as your Facebook Story or on any other app like Instagram, Gmail, or Google Photos.
Dedicated 'Share' button for sharing to other apps
For sharing status to apps like Instagram, Gmail, or Slack, you'd have to hit the 'Share' icon appearing next to the Facebook Story button. The same options could also be accessed by clicking on the three-dotted button next to the status (which shows status views).
Either ways, your accounts won't be linked
No matter how you share your status as your Facebook Story, the social network will ensure that your WhatsApp and Facebook accounts are not linked. To recall, back in June, a spokesperson for the company had told The Verge that the capability uses the same data-sharing API that other apps use for transferring data, including photos/videos, to third-party apps and services.
Facebook will treat both posts as different events
With the use of this API, Facebook will share the status to your Facebook Story and treat the original and transferred photos/videos as two separate events on both services. Not to mention, the one-touch option will also save you from the trouble of going through the sharing process on Facebook for posting the same thing. However, do note that it won't share automatically.
Download latest version of WhatsApp to get the capability
Now, if you want the new status sharing options introduced by WhatsApp, head over to Google Play Store and update the messaging service. On our test device, the feature worked with WhatsApp v2.19.244, so make sure you have this one. If the update doesn't show up on your phone, we would recommend waiting for a few more days.
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