WhatsApp is testing a new birthday reminder feature that could notify users when a friend or family member has a birthday.
According to a report by WhatsApp-focused website WABetaInfo, the feature has appeared in a beta version of WhatsApp for iOS devices.
The feature is designed to allow users to keep track of birthdays within WhatsApp instead of relying on separate calendar applications.
Under the feature, users could receive notifications about the birthdays of people saved in their WhatsApp contacts and open a chat directly to send birthday wishes.
The birthday reminders are being tested through a new Contacts tab on iOS, which is replacing the Updates section in the reported beta version.
The feature will rely on birthday information provided by users on WhatsApp. This means a birthday reminder will only be available when a contact has made their date of birth available on the platform.
On a contact’s birthday, WhatsApp could highlight the person in the Contacts tab with a cake emoji and a birthday label, making it easier for users to send a greeting.
The feature is still under development and is not available to all beta users. Its functionality could change before WhatsApp releases it more widely.