In this article, I will share with you the top 8 updates that WhatsApp introduced in December 2023, and why you should know about them. These updates are not only useful and fun, but also show how WhatsApp is taking steps to improve its security, privacy, and quality. Let's dive into the article and see what WhatsApp has in store for us.
1. Edit Sent Messages
Have you ever sent a message on WhatsApp and immediately regretted it? Maybe you made a typo, forgot to add something, or sent it to the wrong person. Well, you're not alone. We've all been there. That's why WhatsApp has finally added the ability to edit sent messages, a long-awaited feature that will save us from a lot of embarrassment and confusion.
With this update, you can edit any message you send within 15 seconds of sending it, as long as the recipient has not seen it yet. To edit a message, simply tap and hold on it, and select the edit option from the menu. You can then make the changes you want and send it again. The edited message will be marked with an "edited" label within its bubble, so the recipient will know that you made some changes. This feature is very handy and convenient, as it allows you to correct your mistakes or add more details to your messages without having to delete them and send them again.
2. Voice Status
WhatsApp Status is a feature that lets you share photos, videos, and texts with your contacts for 24 hours. It's a great way to express yourself and keep your friends updated on what's going on in your life. But sometimes, you may not feel like typing or taking a picture. Sometimes, you may just want to say something with your voice. That's why WhatsApp has introduced Voice Status, a feature that lets you record and post voice messages of up to 30 seconds as WhatsApp Status updates.
These voice status updates can be useful for users who would rather speak than type, or who want to convey their emotions and tone better. To post a voice status, simply tap on the microphone icon on the status screen, and hold it to record your message. You can then release it to send it or swipe left to cancel it. You can also add a caption or an emoji to your voice status if you want. Your voice status will be visible to your contacts who have permission to see your status, and they can reply to it with text, voice, stickers, or other methods.
3. Status Reactions
WhatsApp Status reactions are another new feature that WhatsApp has added to make the status experience more interactive and fun. Status reactions offer a quick and simple way to react to status updates from your friends and close contacts. You can choose from eight emojis to express your feelings or thoughts about their status, such as a heart, a smile, a laugh, a wow, a sad, an angry, a fire, or a clap.
To react to a status, simply swipe up on the screen and tap on the emoji you want to use. The emoji will be sent to the status owner as a notification, and they can see who reacted to their status and how. You can also see how many reactions your own status has received, and who reacted to it. Status reactions are a great way to show your appreciation and support to your friends or to start a conversation with them based on their status.
4. Status Profile Rings for New Updates
WhatsApp has also made a subtle but noticeable change to the way it displays status updates from your contacts. Now, whenever a contact posts a new status update, you will see a green circle around their profile picture, indicating that they have something new to share. This green circle will be visible in the contacts, chats, and participant lists for groups. This way, you can easily spot who has updated their status, and check it out if you're interested. This feature is similar to the blue circle that appears around profile pictures of contacts who have unread messages. It helps you keep track of the status activity of your contacts, and not miss out on any important or interesting updates from them.
5. Link Previews on Status
Another improvement that WhatsApp has made to the status feature is the addition of link previews on status updates. Earlier, whenever you posted a link to your WhatsApp Status update, it only showed the link, and you had no clue what the link contained.
But now, with the link preview feature, you will be able to see a visual preview of the link's contents when you post a link to your status. The link preview will show the title, a brief description, and an image of the web page that the link leads to. This will not only make your status updates look more attractive and informative but also help your contacts understand what the link is about before they click on it. To post a link with a preview to your status, simply copy the link from any source, and paste it on the status screen. You will see a preview of the link below the text box, and you can tap on it to edit or remove it.
You can also add a caption or an emoji to your link status if you want. Your link status will be visible to your contacts who have permission to see your status, and they can tap on the link to open it in their browser.
6. PIP Mode for Video Calls on iPhones
WhatsApp video calls are a popular and convenient way to stay in touch with your friends and family, especially during these times of social distancing and lockdowns. You can make video calls with up to eight people at a time, and enjoy high-quality audio and video. However, sometimes you may want to do something else on your phone while on a video call, such as check your messages, browse the web, or use another app. That's why WhatsApp has introduced the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode for video calls on iPhones, a feature that was already available to Android users. With the PIP mode, you can shrink the size of the video call window, and move it around the screen, while using other apps on your phone. This way, you can multitask without interrupting your video call. To use the PIP mode, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen during a video call, and select the app you want to use. You will see the video call window in a small size, and you can drag it to any corner of the screen. You can also tap on it to enlarge it, mute it, or end it.
7. Accidental Delete
WhatsApp has also added a new feature that will help you avoid losing your important messages by mistake. Sometimes, you may want to delete a message for everyone, but by mistake, you tap on the delete for me option, or vice versa. This can be very frustrating, as you may lose a message that you want to keep or fail to delete a message that you want to remove.
To prevent this from happening, WhatsApp has introduced an undo button for accidentally deleted messages. With this feature, you will see a pop-up message on the screen after you delete a message, asking you if you want to undo your action. You will have a few seconds to tap on the undo button and restore the message to its original state. This feature is very useful and convenient, as it gives you a chance to correct your deletion choice and avoid losing or keeping messages that you don't want to.
8. Device Verification
WhatsApp takes the security and privacy of its users very seriously and uses end-to-end encryption to protect their messages and calls from being accessed by anyone else. However, there is still a risk of your account being hacked or compromised by malware or phishing attacks, especially if you use WhatsApp on multiple devices, such as your phone, tablet, or computer. That's why WhatsApp has added a new layer of security to its app, called Device Verification. This feature helps you verify and manage the devices that are linked to your WhatsApp account, and prevent any unauthorized access to your account.
With Device Verification, you will see a list of all the devices that are connected to your WhatsApp account, and their details, such as the device name, model, OS, and last active time. You can also see if any device is currently active, and if it has a verified or unverified status. A verified device is one that you have scanned a QR code with and confirmed that it belongs to you. An unverified device is one that you have not scanned a QR code and may be suspicious or unsafe.
You can verify any device by tapping on it and scanning the QR code that appears on the device screen with your phone. You can also remove any device from your account by tapping on it and selecting the logout option. This will disconnect the device from your WhatsApp account, and delete all your messages and media from it. Device Verification is a very important and useful feature, as it helps you keep track of your devices, and secure your account from any potential threats.
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