How to get the Messages applications to allow me to react to texts, contacts are able to react to my texts and I see their reactions. The chat features setting is enabled on my S21 FE 5G.
It makes sense that it works for the person with the S22.
Is the language on your device set to English US?
It looks like it was a Staged rollout by Google, but it was announced back in March of this year, so I would have thought it'd be available for everyone by now, but maybe not.
Anyway, here's a link with some more information.
I've been using Google Messages (Betas) forever, but I use English UK on my device.
The react feature isn't working on google messages app on Android 12, Note20, either. I did notice it worked a while back. The iPhone users can react to my messages though, sent from Note20.
