WhatsApp has introduced email verification and Chat Lock, which provides users with an additional layer of authentication and security. The app is also doubling down on security with a new Secret Code feature.
Source: Pexels
With Email Verification, users can link their WhatsApp accounts to an email address. This is an alternative to the usual SMS verification that could be more useful for users in areas where reception and connectivity is compromised.
In addition to Email verification, WhatsApp is also introducing two features to enhance privacy on the app: Chat Lock and Secret Code. Chat locks work by being able to set aside chats in a specialised folder in WhatsApp that is only accessible through fingerprint or face ID ensuring only the user can securely stow them away from prying eyes.
With Secret Code, users can place passcodes on locked chats to add that secure layer to the conversation. Users can also hide the Locked chat folders from the home page, which can only be accessed with the passcode users had placed when typing in the search bar.
As with all new features, users must first update WhatsApp to the latest version. After updating, users can go to the Your Profile tab, pick the Account option, and tap on Email Address to connect their account to an email address. The email address is required for authentication and is kept private. Currently, Chat Lock and Email Verification features are live and available publicly in the App. Meanwhile, the Secret Code is in the process of rolling out and will soon be available globally.
These updates come in the wake of WhatsApp and Google both sharing an update that would end the large backups that Android users are able to have. In the update, both Google and WhatsApp iterate that back ups will now count towards user’s 15GB quota of storage across Google services. This would mean that if your back up is larger than 15GB you would need to look into subscribing for larger storage capacities from Google. The plans start at $1.99 per month for 100 GB or $9.99 per month for 2 TB.
WhatsApp is continually evolving with many new features being added to the popular messaging app. Last year, the team behind WhatsApp introduced features that let users migrate their data between Android and iOS. Just recently, users were able to use the same account on more than one device. Now, WhatsApp is adding a feature that a lot of people have asked for the ability to use more than one account on the same device and a new iPad version of the app.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, recently teased that soon, users will be able to use more than one WhatsApp account on the same Android phone. This function has been in the works and has been in testing since August 2023. This is good news for people who have more than one number and use WhatsApp. The feature will soon be available on Android devices but it’s uncertain if it will be making its way to iOS.
In addition to that update, WhatsApp is adding a few more usability tweaks. The first is a new menu that allows users to switch between voice and video messages. The added step is meant to prevent users from switching between modes by mistake. In WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.22.5, you can get this new tool. Currently, this function is only available for Beta users but will be rolled out soon publicly.
WhatsApp is also introducing a feature that will allow users to send voice messages that self-destruct. Just like the “View Once” tool for pictures and videos, this function lets audio messages delete themselves after the recipient opens them. With this feature, users will not be able to record or download the audio notes that disappear after a certain amount of time. Like the previous update, the function is only available on the Beta version of testing at the moment.
It looks like WhatsApp is finally coming to the iPad. The iPad app was initially teased by Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp at Meta, last year. It looks like it’s coming really soon. The app is optimized for iPad devices and looks nearly identical to the desktop version. As of now it’s only in the beta stage of testing and many features are not fully functional. There is also no sign or indication of when it will be released to general users.
Besides that, WhatsApp may also be bringing its take on memojis soon. In the WhatsApp beta for Android (V2.23.19.14), users are able to create and use their personalized avatars in video calls making it more fun and interactive for users. Finally, in the latest update for WhatsApp beta for Android, V2.23.19.16, group calls have been expanded to allow up to 31 participants at a time.
While these features are compelling, it’s worth noting that all of them remain in Beta with no clear timeline for when they will make it to the app itself. Do stay tuned as we keep a lookout for the features to hit the official release.
Where last week saw WhatsApp releasing a new Beta version that tells of things to come, this week sees WhatsApp releasing a new feature into their app to offer even more communication avenue and flexibility for its users. They call the new feature Channels, and it allows users to create a one-to-many communication channel. That allows corporate users or even celebrities and influencers to create a single messaging platform for brand-specific messages to all their subscribers, fans, and customers.
To be fair, the feature is not technically brand-new. The feature has been tested and piloted successfully in Colombia and Singapore. Following the success, WhatsApp thinks it is ready for primetime in 150 countries.
While it is designed for brands, organizations, and even celebrities to directly reach out to other their fans, customers, and communities without the clout of input from participants in the channel, WhatsApp is working to making the feature available and accessible to all WhatsApp users which might mean that you can try creating a channel on your own in the future. Participants in channels can also react with emoji rather than having access to the message board, which also means that user interaction within the channel is not completely culled.
Source: WhatsApp
There are concerns that it might be confusing for users to distinguish between a channel communication and regular chat since they will look similar through the interface. WhatsApp will be adding a new section just for Channels though, allowing you to quickly separate Channels communication and regular chats with your friends. That does not mean that you cannot use any messaging from Channels in your daily regular chats though. You still can forward messages from Channels to your friends or groups if you feel like you want to share some news. It might also encourage the larger adoption of Channels this way.
The WhatsApp Channels update should be coming to most users by the end of today (19th September 2023), at least according to the WhatsApp team from Meta. If you have not received the update or have not seen the update, you might want to check if your WhatsApp has been updated to the latest version or not via your Google Play Store or Apple App Store. For more information WhatsApp’s latest feature, you can head out to their blog.
The digital age of smartphones and apps gave birth to plenty of alternatives for communication methods. We are not really talking about the evolution of 3G to 4G to the current 5G, or whatever that it will evolve into the future. We are talking about going back to messenger apps that sort of lost their appeal when mobile phones became a thing in the Windows XP era. Thanks to the large uptake of an app ecosystem like Apple’s App Store, WhatsApp became a big phenomenon, even bigger than the BlackBerry Messenger. Even with BlackBerry bringing their Messenger app, the rise of apps like Signal, and even Telegram, WhatsApp remains the most popular alternative messenger app you use on your smartphone. There is a good reason for that.
WhatApp, while starting out as a rather simple messenger app for the masses and bridging the gap between Apple iOS and Google Android users, has progressed to become something beyond a simple messenger. The look has not changed all that much to be fair, but the number of features that is packed into the app makes it one of the most complete messenger apps you have out there. One of biggest or most significant updates, at least in our opinions, is the introduction of Communities into the platform. They are not stopping there though.
Source: WA Beta Info
According to the most reliable WhatsApp leak sources, WA Beta Info, WhatsApp is now working on bringing third-party messaging into the platform. This will be in accordance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations that obligate tech companies to offer a more global communication tool that allows users from different platforms to communicate with each other. That also means that you might be able to start texting your friend on Telegram or WeChat without having to download those apps or have any account on the apps and vice versa.
While it has appeared as a Beta feature on WhatsApp Beta version 2.23.19.8 for Android, it does not mean that we will see the feature coming as a fully developed feature anytime soon. There are plenty of things to work on when it comes to third-party app messaging abilities. For one, end-to-end encryption between different apps works rather differently from one another. While a previous interview tells us that the encryption protocol between Signal and WhatsApp is rather similar, there are no guarantees that both apps can communicate with each other without hiccups. There is also a problem of the different programming languages and architecture on the platforms for seamless transition and communication between each of the programs. You also want to keep in mind that not all the features that come out in the Beta version of WhatsApp will be released as a full feature for WhatsApp in the future.
This Beta feature is a little different though. It is developed in compliance with a sanctioned regulation. That also means that we will most likely see the feature being baked into WhatsApp and other messenger apps like Telegram and even Signal. It is just a matter of time.
Exciting times ahead for WhatsApp users as we round up the many new features coming very soon to your device!
Improved privacy features for messaging and calls
WhatsApp made great strides in privacy for messaging apps, when they introduced view-once messaging. Now, this process will get a whole lot easier. Spotted on a WhatsApp beta build on the Play Store, simply long-tap the send button to send a view-once message. This will also apply to sharing view-once photos and videos, though at the moment, GIF formats will not be able to be shared this way as reported by WABetaInfo.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Another boost to privacy, WABetaInfo have previewed a new feature called “Protect IP address in calls”. This feature can be toggled to mask your IP address by relaying calls through WhatsApp servers, making it harder to trace your location. While more secure, the feature comes at the cost of a small reduction in call quality. Another security feature for calls was the option to silence unknown callers. This toggle feature will stop calls from unknown callers ringing, while still showing up in your Calls tab.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Text formatting and enhanced media sharing
We can now expect more personalization and utility in messaging thanks to the new text formatting feature coming to WhatsApp. WABetaInfo showcased formatting tools such as syntax for blocking code snippets, quoting specific text, and creating text lists. There will also be a new “Quote”, which improves upon the existing “Quote message” feature. This will allow you to now quote specific parts of messages instead of the whole message.
Image source: WABetaInfo
WhatsApp will also be addressing another key issue; sharing HD media. As reported by 9to5Google via the Verge, there is a new “HD” button available when adding an image to a message. Selecting it brings up two options; standard quality (1600 x 1052) and HD quality (4096 x 2692). Recipients will also have the option to keep the standard quality or HD quality versions when on slow connections. No details on how compressed the images will be as of yet. WhatsApp will also give the same choice for HD video, as reported by TechCrunch. Users can now opt to send their videos either compressed to the current app standard of 480p or toggle HD video of 720p.
Native macOS app may be a reality soon
Great news for Mac users, WhatsApp will soon be available as a native macOS app. As reported by Tech Radar, the new app is already available to download for free via WhatsApp servers. However, if you prefer to use the Mac App Store, you will have to be patient as it is not available as of yet. Along with the new app, you can also expect integration with native Mac features such as “drag and drop” for easier media sharing and longer chat histories. There will also be enhanced call features, with capacity to connect 8 people on video call and 32 people on audio call. You can also join a group call after it has started, see your call history and opt to receive call notifications even when the app is closed. Alongside this features, you will also get the expected functionality of WhatsApp including end-to-end encryption and cross-platform support. Mac users will need to have a system running on macOS 11 Big Sur and powered by Apple chipsets; at least the Apple M1, to be able to use this app. If you don’t meet those requirements, don’t fret as there is always WhatsApp web.
Image source: Meta
Screen sharing and quality of life improvements
Another big addition coming to WhatsApp will be screen sharing over video calls. Keeping up with competitors like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, WhatsApp will now allow sharing of your phone or desktop screen as reported by Android Police. You can choose to share a specific app or your whole screen over a video call. Screen sharing will be protected by end-to-end encryption. The drawbacks are audio cannot be shared in screen sharing. To further support this feature, WhatsApp will allow video calls in landscape mode, to take advantage of your screen’s real estate. The feature might be coming sooner than expected. Keep a lookout for a Share button in the bottom action bar in your next video call.
Image source: Android Police
WhatsApp is also rolling out some quality of life enhancements to improve your app experience. This includes a revamped UI for Settings and the chat list along with a dedicated “You” page which houses your account information. There will be some minor visual enhancements, including the profile picture moved to the top right of the home screen.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Along with this UI update, Android Police has reported a new, sleek animation on the button when switching between audio message and video message. The icons jump up and twist when changing from a mic to a camera. This makes it easier to know which type of message is being composed, in addition to the existing floating tooltip. And finally, Android Police also reports the addition of a new page encouraging users to create their own Community. With WhatsApp being a staple for group chats, the Community feature will help organize messaging for larger groups of people. This is especially useful for neighborhood, schools and even select work groups. There is also a handy Get Started button that will help walk you through creating your first Community.
New features may already be in your hands
There are no exact dates when the new features will be available, but as it is a staged roll out, you may already have the chance to experience the enhanced WhatsApp. With the addition of these new features, WhatsApp is making great strides in keeping up with the competition. In fact, they may just end the year as the best messaging app in the market!
There’s no denying that businesses that fail to engage with their customers are doomed to stagnate and eventually die. As a matter of fact, Meta reports that over 1B people are regularly engaging with businesses on Meta platforms. This number isn’t industry specific either, it covers over 55% of every industry.
Source: Meta Malaysia
Meta continues to innovate on its platforms to allow businesses to leverage them to drive business objectives. Platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook continue to be some of the most valuable touchpoints for businesses as it brings a mix of familiarity and proximity to both sides. It also allows businesses to leverage these aspects to build a persona and personality to better relate to its target audience. Recognising these factors, Meta has continually been innovating to allow businesses to leverage its platforms and the latest in technologies that complement them.
Leveraging AI to Ensure Platform Safety and Innovate to Empower Businesses
The latest to join the suite of tools is Artificial Intelligence. That’s not to say that Meta hasn’t used AI before. In fact, Facebook integrated AI into its timeline back in 2006. However, with the surge in interest when it comes to Generative AI, it is quickly becoming more apparent that we are indeed in AI 2.0.
Source: Meta Malaysia
Using the new advances in AI technology, Meta has quickly adapted to address newer trends and incorporate these advances to drive better results with less data. This also comes in the wake of a growing number of regions and countries clamping down on data privacy and security. The incorporation of Machine Learning algorithms and newer AI 2.0 advancements have led to 82% of hate speech being removed through automated means on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Meta is also implementing new algorithms that are created to use less data to deliver comparable or better results for businesses. To date, these algorithms have delivered a 20% increase in conversions for businesses leveraging them. With these algorithm’s working in the background, it falls to businesses to leverage them to drive business outcomes.
Business Messaging & Continuing the Customer Journey on Meta Platforms
As AI continues to become a deeply integrated factor for business continuity, we have to know and use the tools – paid or otherwise – that will not only allow for better outcomes but also help create a better customer experience.
Source: Meta Malaysia
Meta’s Business Suite and Ads Manager are continually being updated with tools that integrate AI technology to drive better business outcomes. One such tool is Meta’s Creative+ option which appears when you post content to your page. This feature allows you to test up to 4 different creatives to determine which delivers the best results.
Using features like this, businesses are able to extend their reach while keeping costs down. It also allows businesses to leverage the familiarity of the platforms to drive customer loyalty through business messaging. This comes in addition to AI-assisted product discovery with more broadly, AI-determined audiences for better conversions. AI-assisted determination also can help leverage behavioural data to optimise touchpoints based on customer behaviour.
This data can also be used to create chatbots that allow businesses to interact with customers more effectively. These chatbots can be built to suit the unique needs of businesses while still allowing for the flexibility for humans to jump in at any time.
Understanding Trends and Leveraging Them
One of the most important things to pay attention to is the trends that are emerging and continually shifting. These trends play a significant role in determining the combination of tools that will fit business needs. More importantly, it will also help determine the best approach for success on Meta’s platforms.
Meta shared a study on McDonald’s Malaysia leveraged the fact that there is an increasing number of users spending more time-consuming video content on Facebook and Instagram to be the driving force behind their recruitment campaign. Using reels available on Facebook and Instagram, the company was able to communicate the experience of being an employee at a McDonald’s outlet. Of course, the reels produced naturally embellished the experience with some fictional elements to generate interest and convey the business’s policies. This cornerstone content allowed McDonald’s to communicate directly to their target audience – Gen Z.
This falls in line with Meta’s own data which shows that more than 50% of time spent on Facebook and Instagram is spent consuming video content. This includes long-form videos, reels and even stories. In fact, reels may be the best touch point with over 200 Billion plays per day.
Meta’s Just Getting Started with AI 2.0 and Businesses Need to Start Leveraging It Now
It’s only the tip of the iceberg of how AI 2.0 will be impacting our world when it comes to creating consumer journeys, continuing Business Messaging and even creating content. Meta has already announced AI efforts like LLaMA which will no doubt factor into new tools that will come to its platforms in the future.
This will also entail businesses needing to deal with scams head-on hand in hand with regulators and companies like Meta. Meta is already working on identity verifications which will be more widely available to users as the year progresses. However, the company has yet to announce the same verification measures for businesses but we have it on good authority that it will be coming soon.
WhatsApp, at least in Malaysia, is the most popular messenger app that has ever existed. It is a common bridge between iOS and Android users. Some Nokia devices running proprietary operating systems (OS) can also support WhatsApp messenger these days. When everything becomes more integrated, they introduced WhatsApp web, an official workaround for you to use your WhatsApp messenger on your PC, and without flipping between devices. Then they introduced WhatsApp Desktop app, a sort of workaround if you are too lazy to turn to your browser to type “web.whatsapp.com” into it to use WhatsApp web.
WhatsApp Desktop though was one of the best things to happen to WhatsApp users. It allows users direct access to their WhatsApp messages on their PC or Mac devices without having to go anywhere else. With just a click of a button or icon, your PC or Mac turns into your answering machine powered by you. The app is based on the Electron framework, details of which we will not get into. What you need to know is that the WhatsApp Desktop experience is very close to what you get on WhatsApp web, just without having to type a URL into your browser.
A few months ago, WhatsApp revolutionized again finally with an official native Windows app simply called WhatsApp. It looked nothing like WhatsApp web or WhatsApp Desktop. It looks cleaner and feels smoother, and rather fitting to the designs of Windows. Naturally, we switched to the native app. Not everyone switched to the new app however and remained with WhatsApp Desktop, to the point that WhatsApp is now forcing users to switch their native app.
They do that by shutting down their old WhatsApp Desktop app and encouraging users to switch to the native app instead. The first indication to WhatsApp shutting down their old WhatsApp Desktop app is when WhatsApp notified users of the app about a month ago with a countdown on the app’s main screen. If you try to access the Desktop app now, the main page will only tell you that the app has expired and offers you a link to the new app, at least to its Microsoft Store page.
Since WhatsApp has not introduced a native app for the MacOS currently. That also means that you will still have to rely on your WhatsApp Desktop app if you are on a Mac or work with WhatsApp web for the time being. That does not mean that WhatsApp will not have a native app for Mac though, you can safely expect the native app to also come to Mac devices and the old Desktop app to be retired.
On the 5th of May 2023, the WHO announced that COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a global emergency. According to the release from United Nations, WHO has acknowledged that the COVID-19 is ‘here to stay’. They also acknowledged that the virus is still evolving and killing. Still, the world understands the virus plenty more now and the death toll has dwindled down to a handful these days.
Sure, you still hear cases of infection, but it was not like the beginning of 2020, where the pandemic took the world over and killed plenty. In the past 12 months as well, WHO has observed a downward trend the pandemic and infection rate thanks to the development of the vaccines, their improvements, and the rate at which they are being distributed. The immense pressure put on the medical industry and healthcare workers has now declined nearly to normal levels before the pandemic and so has life outside the hospital. That is why WHO has declared the global emergency that we know as the COVID-19 pandemic has now officially ended.
Considering COVID-19, the entire internet is swarmed with information for COVID-19. The overwhelming flood of information on COVID-19 was a mixed bag too, you get plenty of speculations from ‘experts’, and actual reports from various accredited sources on the virus spread, behaviour, and even development. Public panic is a real threat and issue in times like these and platforms like Meta and even Google had to step in to curb the threat. To do that, they had to establish a misinformation policy that pertains specifically to COVID-19. For Meta especially, they had to block information that does not come from verified accredited sources to ensure that the public information you receive regarding COVID-19 are correct.
Since the global emergency has been retracted, Meta is now considering rolling back and scale down the restrictions regarding information pertaining to COVID-19. As a matter of fact, they technically have rolled back their policy on COVID-19 information. They have convened with the Oversight Board and updated their policy in accordance to the guidelines that has been set by the board.
In light of WHO’s announcement to end the global state of emergency for COVID-19, Meta will be taking a more lenient approach to misinformation against COVID-19. That does not mean that they are completely removing the policy though. There will still be guidelines in place to protect the public from physical harm and risks, which also means that if Meta’s algorithm thinks that your Facebook posting will potentially cause panic, physical, or mental harm, it will still be taken down and blocked. They also say that they are only scaling down on their policy in regions that followed WHO’s guidelines in ending the state of emergency. There are still regions that are still in a state of emergency and Meta will still apply their misinformation policy for users in those regions. For updates on Meta’s latest efforts on their COVID-19 misinformation policies, you can head out to their blog.
WhatsApp just brought some major updates in the past week with some new features in its Communities feature. They have also added a few features to be tested for beta users last week. One of them is a creative text editing tool that allows users to change the text’s alignment and fonts. Testers also get to work with disappearing messages anywhere from 24 hours, 7 days, and 90 days. There could also be a new ‘audio chat’ function which seems to be a sort of group chat via WhatsApp where included or invited members can go in and out of the chat at any time they want. Now, they are adding more security feature that might actually be a lot of use.
Source: WA Beta Info
The latest WhatsApp Beta version 2.23.8.2 for Android allows you to lock selected chats. That applies to both one-on-one chats and group chats. You can either use your fingerprint as a key or just a regular PIN code. The locked chats even have a separate tab for it so that you can easily set it out from other chats. Your locked chats will not be able to be seen from the main chat screen though, so you might want to remember whose chat you have locked. If you failed to enter the right credentials to open the chat, the app will prompt you to clear the chat before you open in the next time. It is not only chats that gets locked too, the media files shared on these private chats will not get saved into your smartphone’s gallery.
WhatsApp, at least in Malaysia, is the most popular alternative messenger app. With the latest community update, WhatsApp has become one of the most powerful community management tool to have for community managers and admins. While they have been also updating the app with more security patches than before to make the app one of the most secure in the world, they have not given much in terms of control over privacy and security of a user. With the new beta update, it seems like WhatsApp is putting more control into the users’ hands. We are sure to be locking some our private chats aside to keep prying eyes from it.
Last year WhatsApp tested and later launched their new Communities feature for all WhatsApp users. If you have not found out or familiar with Communities, it is a powerful management tool sitting within WhatsApp to manage all your groups in one place. You can, as admin of multiple groups create a Community, a group of groups for you to manage and access in a single place. You can, as an admin, make a community wide broadcast message, create targeted messages for select groups, and even moderate chats within the group. Of course, WhatsApp will not just stop there.
WhatsApp has added an important privacy control for group admins. Group admins can now decide if a person is worthy of joining the group or not. For Communities users, the admin can choose if a particular individual can join any of the groups within the community or not. Of course, the feature is not just limited to Communities users. They can also still send invite links to people they want in the group. If they do not want a particular person in the group for any longer, they still can kick relevant members out of the groups.
That is not to say that plain members within a community has no added features or benefits for themselves. WhatsApp has added a way to find other members that is in the same groups as you are. It works both ways too, you can find out which members are in the same groups as you are. You can also use the function to find groups through these common contacts, in case you forgot which groups are which. It is important, since the dependency on WhatsApp and Groups within Communities are much bigger than before now.
You might not be seeing the function rolling out to your app today. WhatsApp says that they are rolling the update to users in the coming weeks in stages. If you are interested in getting the best out of your Groups, you want to keep checking your app updates regularly. To know more about the new functions WhatsApp is adding to the app, you can always head out to their blog.
