WhatsApp backtracks on subtle change adding capital letters – as it reassures irate users ‘it’s getting back to normal now’
- ‘Online’ and ‘Typing’ had a capital ‘O’ and a capital ‘T’ in the WhatsApp app
- WhatsApp has confirmed that it has reversed the change following the backlash
WhatsApp made headlines this week after users noticed a subtle change in the app.
‘Online’ and ‘Typing’ – words that appear in your chats under the other user’s name – have changed from lowercase first letters to a capital ‘O’ and a capital ‘T’.
While this sounds quite minor, many users weren’t happy with it, with one claiming it ‘hurt my soul’.
If the capitalization is bothering you, there’s good news: WhatsApp has confirmed it’s reverting to the change.
“This was just a small test, but now it is returning to normal,” a spokesperson said.
WhatsApp made headlines this week after users noticed a subtle change in the app (stock image)
‘Online’ and ‘Typing’ – words that appear in your chats under the other user’s name – have been changed from lowercase first letters to a capital ‘O’ and a capital ‘T’
The subtle change was introduced last week on both the iOS and Android WhatsApp apps.
Although WhatsApp didn’t formally announce it, it gained massive attention on social media.
About is a capital ‘T’. (Typing).
“Just a capital letter different, but I hate it so much.”
Another added: “Does anyone else really, albeit irrationally, hate WhatsApp for adding a capital letter to the beginning of Online and Typing?”
‘Is anyone else really bothered by the fact that WhatsApp now capitalizes ‘online’ and ‘typing’? It hurts my soul,” said a user on X (formerly Twitter)
One tweeted: ‘Did anyone else notice that WhatsApp changed the typing and online part at the top and made it a capital letter?! ‘Makes my eyes twitch’
Unfortunately, the change appears to be a permanent one as there is no option available within WhatsApp’s settings to revert to the previous lowercase version
And someone said: ‘Did anyone else notice that WhatsApp changed the typing and online part at the top and made it a capital letter?!
“It makes my eye twitch.”
The change initially appeared to be permanent, as there was no option available within WhatsApp’s settings to revert to the previous lowercase version.
However, WhatsApp has now confirmed that the good old lowercase letters have returned to the app.
The change comes shortly after WhatsApp launched four new text formatting options to make it easier for users to communicate.
These are the bulleted list, the numbered list, the block quote, and the inline code.
These new options are in addition to the bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace options already available.