Attention WhatsApp users! Big changes are brewing on the horizon! According to reports, Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, is developing new features designed to enhance your messaging experience. From added security measures to exciting functionalities, these updates promise to streamline communication and cater to your evolving needs. Let’s dive deeper and explore what exciting features WhatsApp might have for us!
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According to WABetaInfo, the firm is currently working on features that include autoplay animated graphics, restricted chats on linked devices, status updates lasting up to a minute, exploring new channels, and hiding community group chats.
Locked chats on linked devices feature
The “locked chats on linked devices” feature, which provides an added layer of security for discussions on connected devices, is currently available to a select group of beta testers. This functionality allows users to secure specific conversations, ensuring they can only access these chats from any of their linked devices. To access the protected chats folder, users must generate and enter a secret code, enhancing the privacy and security of their communications. This development is part of a broader effort to offer more robust security features, catering to users’ increasing demand for privacy in their digital interactions.
WhatsApp Status updates of up to 1 minute Feature
Another feature—”status updates of up to 1 minute”—will let users post videos via status updates that are no longer than one minute—30 seconds used to be the maximum length for videos shared on status updates. Currently, in testing with a limited group, the feature is expected to be available to everyone in the coming weeks, according to the source. A smaller group of beta testers can currently use the feature, and in the following weeks, it will be made available to a larger public.
Explore new channels Feature
Additionally, WhatsApp has introduced a new shortcut to “explore new channels,” designed to make the feature instantly apparent and easily accessible to users. According to reports, this enhancement boosts user engagement by making content discovery more intuitive and straightforward. By increasing the visibility of the option to explore channels, WhatsApp encourages users to interact with and discover a wider variety of content. This Discover New Channels feature is available to some beta testers, indicating WhatsApp’s gradual rollout and testing phase to refine the user experience before a broader release.
Autoplay of animated images Feature
Furthermore, the messaging app is developing a feature allowing users to control the “autoplay of animated images” directly from the app settings. This feature will specifically turn off all animations for stickers, avatars, and emoticons, giving users more flexibility over their chat experience.
According to the source, this function is being developed and will be available later in an app update. Finally, a feature enabling users to mark “community group chats as hidden” is being developed by WhatsApp. The app will receive this feature in a later release.
