After a very busy June for the most popular instant messaging app, WhatsApp, the start of summer suits it quite well even if there have not been such major changes. The Meta service continues to refine, in recent times, a formula that works after the major overhaul it has undergone.
Today, in July, it launched two new features that improve the user experience. Focused on privacy and chat management, they represent a new step for WhatsApp. These are the two new features and everything that is coming in the coming weeks.
This group is spam
At the beginning of July, WhatsApp implemented a new feature that introduces an information card when we are added to a group. This card provides details such as who added us, if that person is part of our contacts, who created the group and when. This information is of interest to users to quickly determine the legitimacy of the group and if they want to stay in it. Likewise, it also offers options for leave, report or block the groupthereby improving control and privacy. This becomes especially relevant now that Meta app scams are proliferating.
This update addresses a fundamental need: protect us from unwanted groupsgiving us greater transparency and security. It is an easy way to recognize spam messages on WhatsApp. By immediately knowing the origin of the group and its members, we can make a decision that will avoid future problems.
Only see your favorite discussions
A few days later, the app added a small change that makes it easier to find our most frequent contacts. We could add contacts to favorites, but we found ourselves without the ability to see them alone and only on the screen. Once marked, we can filter using the new button at the topcalled “Favorites”. Some time after the introduction of the aforementioned filters, another one is added to the already present list. In addition, these favorites will also appear highlighted in the calls section, not just in live WhatsApp chats.
This feature aims to improve the organization and access to relevant conversationsespecially useful for some of us who accumulate dozens of discussions. The update is gradually being rolled out globally and reaching all users.
Coming soon to WhatsApp: what the beta tells us
While it hasn’t been a month of abundant new features, the two we reviewed represent substantial improvements. Now, what’s coming in the coming weeks (or months, depending on testing) promises a lot: These are the new features we discovered in WhatsApp beta versions:
- Video Calls with Effects and Backgrounds: WhatsApp Beta was recently introduced effects and backgrounds for video callschanging the experience forever. When this feature becomes available to everyone, it will be possible to customize the visual experience similar to other platforms like Messenger.
- Animated stickers: even more customization, with animated stickers we will have access to thousands of stickers that move gracefully. They can be embed directly from GIPHYsignificantly expanding the options for expression in chats without the need to download additional applications.
- Extended multi-device: WhatsApp has for some time allowed to link two accounts in the application, registered through the traditional process that uses our phone number. However, it is now possible to add a secondary account as an additional deviceleaving us with a “real” account and a “linked” account. Easier to use multiple accounts simultaneously without cheating or cloning apps.
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