diff --git src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/buddypress-functions.php src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/buddypress-functions.php
index 28d2c22..0dbf04d 100644
--- src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/buddypress-functions.php
+++ src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/buddypress-functions.php
@@ -278,12 +278,12 @@ class BP_Legacy extends BP_Theme_Compat {
 		$min = defined( 'SCRIPT_DEBUG' ) && SCRIPT_DEBUG ? '' : '.min';
 
 		// Locate the BP JS file.
-		$asset = $this->locate_asset_in_stack( "buddypress{$min}.js", 'js' );
+		$js = $this->locate_asset_in_stack( "buddypress{$min}.js", 'js' );
 
 		// Enqueue the global JS, if found - AJAX will not work
 		// without it.
-		if ( isset( $asset['location'], $asset['handle'] ) ) {
-			wp_enqueue_script( $asset['handle'], $asset['location'], bp_core_get_js_dependencies(), $this->version );
+		if ( isset( $js['location'], $js['handle'] ) ) {
+			wp_enqueue_script( $js['handle'], $js['location'], bp_core_get_js_dependencies(), $this->version );
 		}
 
 		/**
@@ -308,13 +308,26 @@ class BP_Legacy extends BP_Theme_Compat {
 			'unsaved_changes'     => __( 'Your profile has unsaved changes. If you leave the page, the changes will be lost.', 'buddypress' ),
 			'view'                => __( 'View', 'buddypress' ),
 		) );
-		wp_localize_script( $asset['handle'], 'BP_DTheme', $params );
+		wp_localize_script( $js['handle'], 'BP_DTheme', $params );
 
 		// Maybe enqueue comment reply JS.
 		if ( is_singular() && bp_is_blog_page() && get_option( 'thread_comments' ) ) {
 			wp_enqueue_script( 'comment-reply' );
 		}
 
+		/**
+		 * Enqueues Autosize 3.0.13. 
+		 * 
+		 * @link https://github.com/jackmoore/autosize 
+		 * @license MIT 
+		 */ 
+		if ( bp_is_active( 'activity' ) ) { 
+			// @todo locate_asset_in_stack() should allow us to omit child theme checks... 
+			$asset = $this->locate_asset_in_stack( "autosize{$min}.js", 'js', 'bp-legacy-autosize' ); 
+		
+			wp_enqueue_script( $asset['handle'], $asset['location'], array( $js['handle'] ), '3.0.13' ); 
+		} 
+
 		// Maybe enqueue password verify JS (register page or user settings page).
 		if ( bp_is_register_page() || ( function_exists( 'bp_is_user_settings_general' ) && bp_is_user_settings_general() ) ) {
 
@@ -331,7 +344,7 @@ class BP_Legacy extends BP_Theme_Compat {
 
 		// Star private messages.
 		if ( bp_is_active( 'messages', 'star' ) && bp_is_user_messages() ) {
-			wp_localize_script( $asset['handle'], 'BP_PM_Star', array(
+			wp_localize_script( $js['handle'], 'BP_PM_Star', array(
 				'strings' => array(
 					'text_unstar'  => __( 'Unstar', 'buddypress' ),
 					'text_star'    => __( 'Star', 'buddypress' ),
diff --git src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/css/buddypress.css src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/css/buddypress.css
index d0a4a01..d144b47 100644
--- src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/css/buddypress.css
+++ src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/css/buddypress.css
@@ -129,11 +129,14 @@ Hello, this is the BuddyPress Legacy stylesheet.
 	font-family: inherit;
 	font-size: medium;
 	height: 20px;
+	overflow: hidden;
 	padding: 6px;
+	resize: none;
 	width: 98%;
 }
 body.no-js #buddypress form#whats-new-form textarea {
 	height: 50px;
+	overflow: auto;
 }
 #buddypress form#whats-new-form #whats-new-options select {
 	max-width: 200px;
@@ -143,9 +146,10 @@ body.no-js #buddypress form#whats-new-form textarea {
 	float: right;
 	margin-top: 12px;
 }
-#buddypress #whats-new-options {
-	overflow: auto;
-	height: 0;
+#buddypress #whats-new-options:after {
+	clear: both;
+	content: '';
+	display: table;
 }
 body.no-js #buddypress #whats-new-options {
 	height: auto;
@@ -155,6 +159,13 @@ body.no-js #buddypress #whats-new-options {
 	outline-color: rgba(31, 179, 221, 0.9);
 }
 
+/* Autosize.js hack for IE10-11 - avoids jumpiness */
+@media all and (-ms-high-contrast: none), (-ms-high-contrast: active) {
+	#buddypress form#whats-new-form textarea {
+		padding-bottom: 22px;
+	}
+}
+
 /*--------------------------------------------------------------
 3.1.1 - Activity Listing
 --------------------------------------------------------------*/
diff --git src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/autosize.js src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/autosize.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70dd07c
--- /dev/null
+++ src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/autosize.js
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+/*!
+	Autosize 3.0.13
+	license: MIT
+	http://www.jacklmoore.com/autosize
+*/
+(function (global, factory) {
+	if (typeof define === 'function' && define.amd) {
+		define(['exports', 'module'], factory);
+	} else if (typeof exports !== 'undefined' && typeof module !== 'undefined') {
+		factory(exports, module);
+	} else {
+		var mod = {
+			exports: {}
+		};
+		factory(mod.exports, mod);
+		global.autosize = mod.exports;
+	}
+})(this, function (exports, module) {
+	'use strict';
+
+	var set = typeof Set === 'function' ? new Set() : (function () {
+		var list = [];
+
+		return {
+			has: function has(key) {
+				return Boolean(list.indexOf(key) > -1);
+			},
+			add: function add(key) {
+				list.push(key);
+			},
+			'delete': function _delete(key) {
+				list.splice(list.indexOf(key), 1);
+			} };
+	})();
+
+	function assign(ta) {
+		var _ref = arguments[1] === undefined ? {} : arguments[1];
+
+		var _ref$setOverflowX = _ref.setOverflowX;
+		var setOverflowX = _ref$setOverflowX === undefined ? true : _ref$setOverflowX;
+		var _ref$setOverflowY = _ref.setOverflowY;
+		var setOverflowY = _ref$setOverflowY === undefined ? true : _ref$setOverflowY;
+
+		if (!ta || !ta.nodeName || ta.nodeName !== 'TEXTAREA' || set.has(ta)) return;
+
+		var heightOffset = null;
+		var overflowY = null;
+		var clientWidth = ta.clientWidth;
+
+		function init() {
+			var style = window.getComputedStyle(ta, null);
+
+			overflowY = style.overflowY;
+
+			if (style.resize === 'vertical') {
+				ta.style.resize = 'none';
+			} else if (style.resize === 'both') {
+				ta.style.resize = 'horizontal';
+			}
+
+			if (style.boxSizing === 'content-box') {
+				heightOffset = -(parseFloat(style.paddingTop) + parseFloat(style.paddingBottom));
+			} else {
+				heightOffset = parseFloat(style.borderTopWidth) + parseFloat(style.borderBottomWidth);
+			}
+			// Fix when a textarea is not on document body and heightOffset is Not a Number
+			if (isNaN(heightOffset)) {
+				heightOffset = 0;
+			}
+
+			update();
+		}
+
+		function changeOverflow(value) {
+			{
+				// Chrome/Safari-specific fix:
+				// When the textarea y-overflow is hidden, Chrome/Safari do not reflow the text to account for the space
+				// made available by removing the scrollbar. The following forces the necessary text reflow.
+				var width = ta.style.width;
+				ta.style.width = '0px';
+				// Force reflow:
+				/* jshint ignore:start */
+				ta.offsetWidth;
+				/* jshint ignore:end */
+				ta.style.width = width;
+			}
+
+			overflowY = value;
+
+			if (setOverflowY) {
+				ta.style.overflowY = value;
+			}
+
+			resize();
+		}
+
+		function resize() {
+			var htmlTop = window.pageYOffset;
+			var bodyTop = document.body.scrollTop;
+			var originalHeight = ta.style.height;
+
+			ta.style.height = 'auto';
+
+			var endHeight = ta.scrollHeight + heightOffset;
+
+			if (ta.scrollHeight === 0) {
+				// If the scrollHeight is 0, then the element probably has display:none or is detached from the DOM.
+				ta.style.height = originalHeight;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			ta.style.height = endHeight + 'px';
+
+			// used to check if an update is actually necessary on window.resize
+			clientWidth = ta.clientWidth;
+
+			// prevents scroll-position jumping
+			document.documentElement.scrollTop = htmlTop;
+			document.body.scrollTop = bodyTop;
+		}
+
+		function update() {
+			var startHeight = ta.style.height;
+
+			resize();
+
+			var style = window.getComputedStyle(ta, null);
+
+			if (style.height !== ta.style.height) {
+				if (overflowY !== 'visible') {
+					changeOverflow('visible');
+				}
+			} else {
+				if (overflowY !== 'hidden') {
+					changeOverflow('hidden');
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (startHeight !== ta.style.height) {
+				var evt = document.createEvent('Event');
+				evt.initEvent('autosize:resized', true, false);
+				ta.dispatchEvent(evt);
+			}
+		}
+
+		var pageResize = function pageResize() {
+			if (ta.clientWidth !== clientWidth) {
+				update();
+			}
+		};
+
+		var destroy = (function (style) {
+			window.removeEventListener('resize', pageResize);
+			ta.removeEventListener('input', update);
+			ta.removeEventListener('keyup', update);
+			ta.removeEventListener('autosize:destroy', destroy);
+			set['delete'](ta);
+
+			Object.keys(style).forEach(function (key) {
+				ta.style[key] = style[key];
+			});
+		}).bind(ta, {
+			height: ta.style.height,
+			resize: ta.style.resize,
+			overflowY: ta.style.overflowY,
+			overflowX: ta.style.overflowX,
+			wordWrap: ta.style.wordWrap });
+
+		ta.addEventListener('autosize:destroy', destroy);
+
+		// IE9 does not fire onpropertychange or oninput for deletions,
+		// so binding to onkeyup to catch most of those events.
+		// There is no way that I know of to detect something like 'cut' in IE9.
+		if ('onpropertychange' in ta && 'oninput' in ta) {
+			ta.addEventListener('keyup', update);
+		}
+
+		window.addEventListener('resize', pageResize);
+		ta.addEventListener('input', update);
+		ta.addEventListener('autosize:update', update);
+		set.add(ta);
+
+		if (setOverflowX) {
+			ta.style.overflowX = 'hidden';
+			ta.style.wordWrap = 'break-word';
+		}
+
+		init();
+	}
+
+	function destroy(ta) {
+		if (!(ta && ta.nodeName && ta.nodeName === 'TEXTAREA')) return;
+		var evt = document.createEvent('Event');
+		evt.initEvent('autosize:destroy', true, false);
+		ta.dispatchEvent(evt);
+	}
+
+	function update(ta) {
+		if (!(ta && ta.nodeName && ta.nodeName === 'TEXTAREA')) return;
+		var evt = document.createEvent('Event');
+		evt.initEvent('autosize:update', true, false);
+		ta.dispatchEvent(evt);
+	}
+
+	var autosize = null;
+
+	// Do nothing in Node.js environment and IE8 (or lower)
+	if (typeof window === 'undefined' || typeof window.getComputedStyle !== 'function') {
+		autosize = function (el) {
+			return el;
+		};
+		autosize.destroy = function (el) {
+			return el;
+		};
+		autosize.update = function (el) {
+			return el;
+		};
+	} else {
+		autosize = function (el, options) {
+			if (el) {
+				Array.prototype.forEach.call(el.length ? el : [el], function (x) {
+					return assign(x, options);
+				});
+			}
+			return el;
+		};
+		autosize.destroy = function (el) {
+			if (el) {
+				Array.prototype.forEach.call(el.length ? el : [el], destroy);
+			}
+			return el;
+		};
+		autosize.update = function (el) {
+			if (el) {
+				Array.prototype.forEach.call(el.length ? el : [el], update);
+			}
+			return el;
+		};
+	}
+
+	module.exports = autosize;
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/buddypress.js src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/buddypress.js
index d0eb3d2..3a8ea5f 100644
--- src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/buddypress.js
+++ src/bp-templates/bp-legacy/js/buddypress.js
@@ -28,17 +28,15 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 	/* Object filter and scope set. */
 	bp_init_objects( objects );
 
+	/* Textarea auto-resize */
+	$whats_new.attr('rows', '1');
+	autosize( $whats_new );
+
 	/* @mention Compose Scrolling */
 	if ( $whats_new.length && bp_get_querystring('r') ) {
 		var $member_nicename = $whats_new.val();
 
-		jq('#whats-new-options').animate({
-			height:'50px'
-		});
-
-		$whats_new.animate({
-			height:'50px'
-		});
+		jq('#whats-new-options').slideDown();
 
 		jq.scrollTo( $whats_new, 500, {
 			offset:-125,
@@ -46,20 +44,19 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 		} );
 
 		$whats_new.val('').focus().val( $member_nicename );
+	} else {
+		jq('#whats-new-options').hide();
 	}
 
 	/**** Activity Posting ********************************************************/
 
 	/* Textarea focus */
 	$whats_new.focus( function(){
-		jq('#whats-new-options').animate({
-			height:'50px'
-		});
-		jq('#whats-new-form textarea').animate({
-			height:'50px'
-		});
+		jq( '#whats-new-options' ).slideDown();
+
 		jq('#aw-whats-new-submit').prop('disabled', false);
 
+		jq( this ).parent().addClass( 'active' );
 		jq( '#whats-new-content' ).addClass( 'active' );
 
 		var $whats_new_form = jq('form#whats-new-form'),
@@ -83,34 +80,53 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 		}
 	});
 
-	/* On blur, shrink if it's empty */
-	$whats_new.blur( function(){
-		if ( document.activeElement !== this ) {
-			if (!this.value.match(/\S+/)) {
-				this.value = '';
-				jq('#whats-new-options').animate({
-					height:'0'
-				});
-				jq('form#whats-new-form textarea').animate({
-					height:'20px'
-				});
-				jq('#aw-whats-new-submit').prop('disabled', true);
+	/* For the "What's New" form, do the following on focusout. */
+	jq( '#whats-new-form' ).on( 'focusout', function( e ) {
+		var elem = jq( this );
+
+		// Let child hover actions passthrough.
+		// This allows click events to go through without focusout.
+		setTimeout( function () {
+			if ( ! elem.find(':hover').length ) {
+				jq( '#whats-new-options' ).slideUp();
+
+				jq('#aw-whats-new-submit').prop( 'disabled', true );
+
 				jq( '#whats-new-content' ).removeClass( 'active' );
+				$whats_new.parent().removeClass( 'active' );
 			}
-		}
-	});
+		}, 0 );
+	} );
 
 	/* New posts */
 	jq('#aw-whats-new-submit').on( 'click', function() {
 		var last_date_recorded = 0,
 			button = jq(this),
-			form   = button.closest('form#whats-new-form');
+			form   = button.closest('form#whats-new-form'),
+			inputs = {}, post_data;
+
+		// Get all inputs and organize them into an object {name: value}
+		jq.each( form.serializeArray(), function( key, input ) {
+			// Only include public extra data
+			if ( '_' !== input.name.substr( 0, 1 ) && 'whats-new' !== input.name.substr( 0, 9 ) ) {
+				if ( ! inputs[ input.name ] ) {
+					inputs[ input.name ] = input.value;
+				} else {
+					// Checkboxes/dropdown list can have multiple selected value
+					if ( ! jq.isArray( inputs[ input.name ] ) ) {
+						inputs[ input.name ] = new Array( inputs[ input.name ], input.value );
+					} else {
+						inputs[ input.name ].push( input.value );
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		} );
 
-		form.children().each( function() {
-			if ( jq.nodeName(this, 'textarea') || jq.nodeName(this, 'input') ) {
+		form.find( '*' ).each( function() {
+			if ( jq.nodeName( this, 'textarea' ) || jq.nodeName( this, 'input' ) ) {
 				jq(this).prop( 'disabled', true );
 			}
-		});
+		} );
 
 		/* Remove any errors */
 		jq('div.error').remove();
@@ -145,7 +161,7 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 			object = jq('#whats-new-post-object').val();
 		}
 
-		jq.post( ajaxurl, {
+		post_data = jq.extend( {
 			action: 'post_update',
 			'cookie': bp_get_cookies(),
 			'_wpnonce_post_update': jq('#_wpnonce_post_update').val(),
@@ -154,11 +170,11 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 			'item_id': item_id,
 			'since': last_date_recorded,
 			'_bp_as_nonce': jq('#_bp_as_nonce').val() || ''
-		},
-		function(response) {
+		}, inputs );
 
-			form.children().each( function() {
-				if ( jq.nodeName(this, 'textarea') || jq.nodeName(this, 'input') ) {
+		jq.post( ajaxurl, post_data, function( response ) {
+			form.find( '*' ).each( function() {
+				if ( jq.nodeName( this, 'textarea' ) || jq.nodeName( this, 'input' ) ) {
 					jq(this).prop( 'disabled', false );
 				}
 			});
@@ -205,15 +221,14 @@ jq(document).ready( function() {
 				jq('li.new-update').hide().slideDown( 300 );
 				jq('li.new-update').removeClass( 'new-update' );
 				jq('#whats-new').val('');
+				form.get(0).reset();
 
 				// reset vars to get newest activities
 				newest_activities = '';
 				activity_last_recorded  = 0;
 			}
 
-			jq('#whats-new-options').animate({
-				height:'0px'
-			});
+			jq('#whats-new-options').slideUp();
 			jq('#whats-new-form textarea').animate({
 				height:'20px'
 			});