It was this year’s Apple WWDC event in which the Apple company announced that with the arrival of iOS 16 on iPhones, it would be possible to modify the messages sent in its Messages application.
And that’s also when we wondered if WhatsApp, the most used messaging app in the world, would end up copying this initiative or not.
It will be necessary to wait until September of this year for the final and official version of iOS 16 to arrive and to be able to start using this tool to edit the messages sent. Will WhatsApp integrate this function in the fall?
The truth is that it seems that WhatsApp takes time to be able to edit sent messages. A few years ago, the beta testing expert publication, WaBetaInfo, published that in one of the beta versions of WhatsApp, a menu was seen to edit the messages sent.
Although this option disappeared in later betas, it seems that WhatsApp has changed its mind again as this option has reappeared. This means that the ability to edit messages sent on WhatsApp could be a boon for future app updates.
We don’t know if WhatsApp was “inspired” by Apple’s initiative with its messages or if it’s just waiting to see how it is received by the public. After all, not everyone may be okay with being able to edit posts.
How to Edit Sent Messages on WhatsApp
As you might have imagined, at the moment it is not possible to edit messages on WhatsApp that have already been sent. For some time, WhatsApp has integrated the function of deleting sent messages, but at the moment they cannot be modified.
When you delete a message on WhatsApp, the other person can see that you deleted a message. It’s normal to wonder what was in that deleted message and why you changed your mind. This means that many of us would rather be able to edit a post than have to delete it.
According to images leaked by the aforementioned website, WhatsApp expects that in a future update, messages can be edited by long-pressing the sent message you want to edit and selecting the new “Edit” option, as can be seen. see on the picture.
As for when this option can be used, there is still no confirmation. Yes, we can predict that this new update could arrive this year since Apple has decided to include the same function in its Messages application.
Should WhatsApp offer the ability to edit messages?
Obviously, the answer to this question is very subjective. In my opinion, I think being able to rectify messages you sent in error is something we should have. Everyone makes mistakes and it is wise to rectify them.
On the other hand, I have read and heard the opinions of those who think that this WhatsApp option can lead to fraudulent conversations. A WhatsApp conversation will no longer be used to prove anything since everyone can go back on their own words and modify them as they see fit. Who hasn’t used WhatsApp at some point as evidence in an argument or quarrel? That typical “you told me” followed by a screenshot with that bit of the conversation you want to remember.
Being able to edit messages that have already been sent makes WhatsApp closer to oral communication. In other words, WhatsApp cannot be considered an “everything is written” site since everything that is written can be deleted or modified later. When we speak orally, the words are carried on the wind, as the saying goes. It seems that now the wind can also carry away the words you use on WhatsApp.
However, WhatsApp has not yet confirmed that this will happen at any time, this is only speculation based on leaked information and, more importantly, the fact that Apple will allow you to delete messages with iOS 16.
