WhatsApp Boosts Group Chat, Privacy Features in Major Beta Rollout
WhatsApp is significantly enhancing its platform with a wave of new features currently in beta, focusing on group chats, web calling capabilities, and user privacy. These updates signal a strategic push to improve user experience across all devices and strengthen its position against competing messaging services like Telegram, Zoom, and Google Meet.
The messaging giant recently announced a series of improvements aimed at fostering more seamless communication and bolstering user control over their data. One of the most anticipated additions is the ability for group administrators to automatically share recent chat history with new members. Currently available to iOS beta testers, this feature allows for the sharing of up to 100 of the most recent messages from the past 14 days, effectively onboarding newcomers into ongoing conversations.
For Android users, WhatsApp is streamlining access to unreleased features through a new “Early Access to Features” setting. This allows users to directly join the testing program, bypassing the often-competitive Google Play beta channel. According to a company release, this move is intended to gather more diverse feedback and accelerate the identification and resolution of potential issues.
A key development addresses a long-standing gap in functionality: group voice and video calls on the web client. Previously limited to mobile and desktop apps, this feature will soon be available directly within web browsers, potentially appealing to professionals who rely on WhatsApp for work-related communication. “This could close a crucial gap for users who frequently use WhatsApp for professional purposes,” one analyst noted.
Beyond these core updates, WhatsApp is also refining privacy settings. iOS users will gain access to more granular control over their data, while Android users will benefit from a “Status Privacy Info” feature, providing clear visibility into who can view their status updates.
These parallel updates demonstrate a multi-pronged strategy from WhatsApp: improving core features, increasing user involvement in the development process, and striving for feature parity across platforms. The phased rollout of these features is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with web group calling prioritized for completion.
