Devastated WhatsApp users hit out after 'ominous' new feature replaces old favourite

WhatsApp users have been left devastated by an amendment made to the messaging app.

In fact, some have even started begging tech bosses to change it back.

Users aren't best pleased with the new update (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

This isn't the first time that innovative technology has had a seemingly adverse affect on users.

In the last week alone, the location tracking app Find My Friends came under fire after one eSafety rep expressed concern over its misuse in toxic relationships, and a dangerous new QR-code trend known as 'quishing' hit headlines.

And in case you're worried last week was a one-off, days earlier, a mass deletion warning was issued to anyone who has a Gmail account, and iPhone users were told that a glitch in the system could expose all their recent search history.

Anyone else getting major Black Mirror energy?

Anyway, this week WhatsApp users have not been left too happy with a subtle change to the app.

The app previously said that a user was 'Typing...' (LADbible Media Group)

Regular WhatsApp users will know by now that, when you're inside your messages to some, the word 'Typing...' would appear across the top bar just below their name whenever they were in the midst of penning your reply.

If you were texting a potential beau, seeing that one word would mark the perfect time to hop immediately back out of your messages, so as not to appear to keen by immediately reading it.

The prompt also served as a nifty means of telling whether someone who has their 'Read Receipts' off has read something you've sent to them.

Now, however, Whatsapp has made a slight change to the system, with the 'Typing...' message no longer there.

Instead, an pulsating ellipsis within a speech bubble appears within the message themselves, right above your own keyboard and search bar.

And while this doesn't necessarily change any functions, it seems some users aren't best pleased with the new appearance.

Ellipses now appear (X/@farahharith)

"This new 'typing' feature in WhatsApp lil too ominous for me," one wrote on X.

Another demanded: "What the hell WhatsApp, what are these ellipsis? Bring back the good old 'typing'."

A third admitted: "I miss 'typing...' in whatsapp."

Someone else asked: "When did WhatsApp start this feature of typing?"

One even begged tech bosses to reserve their decision, tweeting: "Hello @WhatsApp can we just go back to so and so is typing?

"This dot dot dot bouncing up and down is getting to be annoying."

Tyla has contacted WhatsApp for comment.