WhatsApp is in the process of launching a new privacy feature that enables users to adjust the privacy settings for links shared in their conversations. Although there has been no official announcement regarding this update, it has been detected on various beta testing accounts. In addition to this, the application is reportedly developing a video-viewing feature that will enhance its usability. Recent reports suggest that a locked chats feature for linked devices is also in the works, slated for a future update following the initial rollout of the Chat Lock feature for smartphones in May 2023.
According to a report from Android Police, WhatsApp has begun the rollout of the link privacy feature to select beta testers. With this, users will have the option to disable link previews, meaning that thumbnails and additional information associated with the articles will no longer be displayed. This will effectively obscure any sensitive details related to the link from others who may attempt to access the chats.
This enhancement is anticipated to streamline chat organization and improve navigation. More importantly, it aims to mitigate the risk of data leaks. Users in the beta program can find this feature by selecting the Disable link previews option under Privacy > Advanced within WhatsApp’s settings. Gadgets 360 has confirmed its availability in the latest version for beta testers.
In another development, a report from WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo indicates that the company is also working on a new video viewing feature. This functionality will allow users to watch videos shared by their contacts in a picture-in-picture mode within the app, similar to features available on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
The WABetaInfo report specified that this picture-in-picture viewing will be exclusive to WhatsApp and will not extend to other applications. This means users can watch a video sent by a contact, exit the chat, and engage in other conversations within WhatsApp while continuing to view the video in a smaller window. However, it was noted that this feature is still under development and is not currently available for beta testing, suggesting that a public release may still be some time away.
