Reimplement Custom Status Properly

[darkralts]

Your use case

What would you like to do?

Re-implement Custom Status Properly

Why would you like to do it?

i heard according to matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#8521, that the custom status was removed due to current bad implementation/"no one used it", which technically isn't true as me and my friends did all the time and loved it, its not that no one used it, its more that very little people knew it existed in the first place. due to it being a hidden beta labs feature with little documentation.

How would you like to achieve it?

i think status would honestly be extremely widely used and well received/liked if implemented properly.

the old status implementation would only work when you had someone added as a DM, meaning 99% of people wont be able to see your status. i personally think there should be more variability to this. if you use chat clients like discord(not recommended but a very good example of status implemented right), most of the time at least 7/10 users have a custom status of some sort set, and by default discord makes it public to everyone. i personally think matrix should do that too, but have a drop down menu that chooses between public and private status message. because, most people set their status for everyone to see, but i can understand private/unlisted would be great as well and also, when you do re-implement it, i would try to go for not a labs feature, as some element users also don't know labs is a thing, which would also make people not know it even exists again,,

basically, i just think it should be implemented in a way that is obvious that it exists, somewhere easily settable, like the top left menu.

and i think it should 100% be global by default, while having the option for private/friends only.

and optional request: maybe have the ability to pick an emote to use with the status like discord? some people might like it, others might not, im indifferent but i thought about it so i should throw it out there at least.

Have you considered any alternatives?

i considered, but i don't think there is any.

Additional context

basically, status is extremely popular on every other chat service i have ever used, and even with its limited previous implementation on matrix, i also really loved it and had so much fun with it! i feel many others feel the same.

thank you for your time.