WhatsApp is set to introduce a new feature that allows users to react to messages by simply double-tapping on the message bubble. This feature has become a staple for other social media platforms like Instagram, which also lets users react to direct messages. Given that WhatsApp is a property of Meta, it's not surprising that this feature is now making its way to the messaging service.

The feature is currently being tested on the Android platform and has already been rolled out to some users in the beta program. To access the feature, users will need to be part of the WhatsApp beta program for Android and join by enrolling on the Google Play Store, provided there are available slots.

With this feature, users can react to photos, videos, and GIFs directly from the media viewer screen, saving them time. By default, double-tapping a message will react with a heart emoji, just like on Instagram. If users want to react with a different emoji, they can do so by long-pressing the message, a feature that is already available.

According to the beta, the feature seems to be enabled by default, which means users cannot disable it. This could be an issue for users who accidentally react to messages, and it will be interesting to see if this is the case when the feature is rolled out to the full version.

This new feature comes at a time when WhatsApp has been actively introducing new features to the service, focusing on both functionality and security. One of the latest features allows users to add chats and calls to a 'Favourites' list, enabling them to easily access the conversations and calls that matter most to them, separating them from the regular chat screen.