WhatsApp updates: Always the latest news around WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp is constantly adding new features to the WhatsApp app and WhatsApp Business. In this live blog, we summarize the latest WhatsApp app and WhatsApp Business updates as soon as they are announced to keep you in the loop. 

WhatsApp is a work in progress! As the Meta app is constantly adding features, upgrading old ones, and introducing new tools, it can be hard to keep track of all the changes. This is what this live blog is for!

As soon as Meta and WhatsApp announce new plans for the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business updates, we'll be adding them to this live blog to keep you informed.

💡 News about WhatsApp Pay and mobile payment can be found here!

WhatsApp updates 2024

Update February 12, 2024

Using WhatsApp without a phone number

WhatsApp is working on a feature update that allows users to set up a WhatsApp account by using a username as ID instead of a phone number.

This feature has been in the works since October 2023, but seems to be getting closer to implementation, as Wabetainfo spotted on an iOS beta version that WhatsApp is working on an improvement. 

Being able to have a username as identification reduces the need to share one's personal phone number when chatting on WhatsApp. Currently, when users connect on WhatsApp, everyone's phone number is visible. 

From what we see in the Beta version, people will get the option to choose a name. WhatsApp then validates it to ensure it's unique and fulfills certain criteria, such as using alphanumeric characters only. 

Once the username is validated, users can simply use this as identification on WhatsApp. 

For users, this will bring more privacy and convenience to the messaging app. 

Update January 29, 2024

WhatsApp working on third-party chats

In accordance with the interoprability requirements of the European Digital Market Act, WhatsApp seems to be working on a third-party chat integration. As reported by Wabetainfo, theres' a new iOS beta version in the works that included a section called "third-party chats". 

This integration would allow users to receive messages from other messaging apps like Telegram or Discord directly on WhatsApp. So far, there is only an iOS beta version, but Android will most likely follow soon. 

Update January 8, 2024

Verified badge for businesses on WhatsApp channels

WhatsApp is working on a verified badge for businesses on WhatsApp channels. According to Wabetainfo, businesses will be able to get their verified badge through a Meta Verified subscription. 

This would be the first time businesses could get a verified check mark without using the WhatsApp Business Platform. However, it's unclear how much the verified badge for WhatsApp Channels will cost and what other benefits would get from having a verified profile. 

The verified badge will be optional, and only available to businesses. According to Wabetainfo, the feature isn't rolled out yet and  still under development. 

WhatsApp (Business) updates 2023

Update December 1st, 2023

Secret code for chat lock and extended chat protection

At the beginning of this year, the chat lock was introduced (update May 16, 2023) to ensure that conversations about more sensitive topics are optimally protected. It's now also possible to use a secret code. This feature makes certain chats even more secure and harder to find, especially if other people have access to the same phone or it's shared.

By using the secret code, an individual password can now be set to provide additional protection for locked WhatsApp chats. The secret code should be different from the password used to unlock the phone. 

This enables users to  hide the "Blocked chats" folder in the chat list. These chats can only be discovered after entering the secret code in the search bar. However, if desired, they can also be displayed in the chat list. If a new chat is to be blocked, users simply have to press and hold it to activate the block, without the need to open the chat settings.

The secret code feature will be introduced immediately and will be available to all users worldwide in the coming months.

Multiple accounts in WhatsApp

WhatsApp now offers everyone the option of logging into two WhatsApp accounts simultaneously on Android devices. This makes it even easier to switch between different accounts, such as work and personal accounts. Users no longer have to log out every time, carry two cell phones, or worry about accidentally sending messages from the wrong account.

To set up a second account, users need a second phone number and a SIM card or a phone that supports multi-SIM or eSIM. In the WhatsApp settings, click on the arrow next to the name and then select "Add account". WhatsApp users can also set individual privacy and notification settings for each account here.

It's important to note that although the ability to switch between private and professional WhatsApp chats is now easier, if you keep your business conversations on a smartphone, you're still violating data privacy laws like the GDPR. 

If you want to keep business ans private WhatsApp chats both seperate and secure, it's better to use a professional WhatsApp solution. That's not only safer, but also offers you more business features. 

Update September 20, 2023

WhatsApp Pay now available in India

After Brazil and Singapore, WhatsApp Pay is now also available for all businesses in India. This was announced in Meta's Conversations conference on September 20 in Mumbai. This means that customers can now browse products lists, shop, and pay directly on WhatsApp. 

Available payment options will be WhatsApp Pay, Google Pay, as well as all UPI payments systems in India. The Unified Payments Interface is an instant payment system developed in India by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as a way to move money from one bank account to another using a single window.

Meta Verified is coming to businesses

Also during the Conversations conference in Mumbai, Mark Zuckerberg announced that the subscription bundle, Meta Verified for creators, will open up to businesses on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp soon. 

With a monthly subscription, businesses will gain access to several premium features, such as: 

• A verified badge confirming your business is validated and authentic
• Proactive impersonation monitoring for added brand protection
• Access to support and help troubleshooting account issues
• New ways to be discovered:
  • On Instagram and Facebook, subscribers will be featured as a Meta Verified business, including appearing at or near the top of search results and as a recommended verified business to follow in feed.
  • WhatsApp business subscribers will receive additional premium features including the ability to create a custom WhatsApp page that is easily discoverable via a web search, and multi-device with chat assignment support so multiple employees can respond to customers.

Meta Verified will first roll out on Facebook and Instagram. One single subscription starts at 21.99 US dollars per month per Facebook page or Instagram account. If you get a subscription for Facebook and Instagram together, it'll be 34.99 US dollars per page and account. 

There's no pricing yet for the WhatsApp subscription. WhatsApp wants to start testing this first with businesses on the Business App, before introducing it to companies on the WhatsApp Business Platform. 

WhatsApp Flows to be launched

WhatsApp Flows was a feature upgrade that was also announced at the Meta Conversations conference. 

WhatsApp Flows are a type of customizable forms that businesses will be able to add into their customer conversations. They will work like quick forms that users can fill out to swiftly book a train seat, order a meal, or book an appointment directly in the WhatsApp chat. 

WhatsApp wants to make Flows available to businesses globally through the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks. 

Update September 13, 2023

WhatsApp Channels roll out globally

After WhatsApp tested a new feature called WhatsApp Channels in Singapore and Colombia in June this year, the global rollout was announced today.  

The broadcast feature is now available in 150 countries. However, not everybody might have access to it right away, as WhatsApp is rolling out the channels gradually for different users. There's a waitlist that you can join to get an update when the feature is available for you.  

Update August 11, 2023

Screen sharing during video calls and instant video messages

WhatsApp's latest updates this time around focus on expanding and improving video capabilities in the consumer app.  

One exciting new feature is the now possible screen sharing during video calls - a feature more commonly known from video conferencing apps like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. 

By tapping the "Share" icon, users can now share a specific app or the entire screen with everyone in the call. However, you should check in advance whether passwords or other sensitive data have to be entered during sharing. These would then also be visible in the sharing mode.

Apart from screen sharing, WhatsApp has also introduced support for video calling in landscape mode to provide a better viewing experience than the existing portrait mode. Additionally, this also supports the use of screen sharing so that shared content is also easily visible on the mobile screen. 

WhatsApp is also expanding its well-known and popular voice messaging feature. With the newly introduced instant video messages, users can now record and share personal videos of maximum 60 seconds in the chat. 

Sending a video message is as easy as with voice messages. When tapping the button for voice messages, you switch directly to video mode. If you now hold the button down, the recording of the video instant message begins. Hands-free recording is also possible by swiping upwards.

If the clips are opened in the chat, they are played on mute by default. Tapping on the video can then start the sound. It is important to mention that video messages, like all messages on WhatsApp, are protected via end-to-end encryption.

According to Meta, the rollout has already begun and the new feature will be available to all users in the coming weeks.

Update June 28, 2023

More than 200 million WhatsApp Business users, easier ads, and new one-to-many feature on WhatsApp Business App 

Today, there was a whole round of announcements about WhatsApp Business. For one, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that WhatsApp Business has surpassed 200 million users globally. 

In addition, Mark Zuckerberg promised two new upgrades: easier creation of WhatsApp Business ads and a new one-to-many message feature on the WhatsApp Business App. 

For the ads, this means that companies can now create click-to-WhatsApp ads directly in the Business App, and they also don't need a Facebook profile anymore. 

In order to set up an ad in the Business App, you need a business profile, a valid e-mail address, and a payment method. As of now, it's unclear how much the ads will cost. 

The second update is also a paid feature. Soon, businesses will be able to send one-to-many messages from the WhatsApp Business App. At least that's what two screenshots show that Meta released with this announcement. 

Until now, sending one message to multiple contacts at once was only possible on the WhatsApp Business API. Meta still hasn't announced how much these messages will cost. 

Update June 9, 2023

WhatsApp Channels are here with new options for marketing on WhatsApp 

WhatsApp has just released a new, and for companies very interesting, feature: WhatsApp Channels! This could become a great tool for content marketing.

So, what exactly are WhatsApp Channels?

• ✅ WhatsApp Channels are a type of news feed, similar to the status updates from friends on WhatsApp. They are also similar to Telegram channels. 
• ♥️ Just like on Instagram or TikTok, WhatsApp users can now follow creators, influencers, and companies on WhatsApp.
• 🔍Users can find channels they want to follow in a searchable directory.
• 🌍WhatsApp Channels are not available globally yet. The company is testing the feature in Singapore and Colombia before rolling it out in more countries. 

More about WhatsApp Channels

Update May 22, 2023

Soon to come: Editing sent WhatsApp messages

This is definitely an update many users have been waiting for: being able to edit sent messages on WhatsApp. Now, this feature is apparently almost ready to launch, as Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, announced on Twitter. 

Coming to everyone over the next few weeks: edit a sent message on @WhatsApp! pic.twitter.com/aQZp6jTFRu

— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) May 22, 2023

Judging from first images, you'll be able to edit sent messages like you're adding immediate reactions: by a long tap on the sent message. 

WhatsApp still hasn't announced a date for the roll-out of this feature. 

Update May 16, 2023

Chat Lock: More privacy for personal conversations

WhatsApp introduced a new chat lock feature offers more privacy for personal conversations. With it, users are now able to separately protect individual chats, but also group chats. These can be locked by tapping on the name of the contact or group and selecting "Lock". 

A locked chat is then moved to a separate folder that only the user can access.

Access to locked chats is only possible via the device password or biometric data such as fingerprint. Another smart feature is that notifications of locked chats don't show the content or the sender.  

This new feature will keep your particularly sensitive chats safe from prying eyes, even if you share your phone within your family or with other people. 

WhatsApp has also announced plans to add more chat lock options, such as locking for companion devices or using a self-defined password that is different from the device password. The rollout of the new feature has started globally and will gradually become available to all WhatsApp users.

Update April 11, 2023

WhatsApp Payments officially launched in Brazil 

Meta successfully completed the tests for WhatsApp Pay and has now officially launched the feature in Brazil. Customers now can pay businesses directly on WhatsApp. Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout in a Facebook post. 

With the payment feature, users can now, according to Zuckerberg, "pay local businesses right in a WhatsApp chat."

After India, Brazil has now become the second country to fully support the in-chat payment feature for WhatsApp. The feature will be rolled out to more Brazilian businesses in the following months. 

Update March 8, 2023

WhatsApp Payments in test phase in Brazil

After a test phase, Brazil's central bank approved WhatsApp Payments in Brazil on March 2. With this decision, customers will soon be able to make payments to small businesses directly on WhatsApp. Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, announced the big news on Twitter.

"Soon, Brazilians will be able to browse products, add them to a cart and make secure payments to small businesses right from a chat with your credit or debit card.”

Will Cathcart

After the approval of peer-to-peer payments on WhatsApp in 2021, this is the next big step for the business use of the messenger app, as users can now pay merchants directly in-app. This means that businesses and customers can complete the entire customer journey on Meta's green messenger app. 

After India, this makes Brazil the second country in the world with in-app payment on WhatsApp. In India, WhatsApp launched the end-to-end shopping feature in 2022 in a partnership with the e-commerce store JioMart. 

Update February 7, 2023

New pricing for business messages

WhatsApp introduces a new pricing model for conversations between businesses and customers. The old model of differentiating between a business-initiated conversation and a user-initiated conversation now gives way to new message categories.

So, costs will depend on the category of message, rather than on who started the conversation. WhatsApp will roll out the new cost model in stages.

Since February 2, new templates are available. In March, the time frame for responses will increase, and in June 2023, the new conversation pricing will go into effect.

New message categories

WhatsApp now differentiates between four message categories:

1. Utility conversations: Business-initiated conversations relating to a transaction, including post-purchase notifications and recurring billing statements to customers who have opted in.
2. Authentication: Business-initiated conversations that enable businesses to authenticate users with one-time passcodes at multiple steps during the login process, such as account registration, account recovery, and integrity challenges.
3. Marketing conversation: Business-initiated conversations to market a product or service to customers, such as relevant offers to customers who have opted in. Any business-initiated conversation that does not qualify as an authentication or utility conversation would also fall under this category.
4. Service conversations: Any user-initiated conversation, such as to resolve a customer enquiry.

Our pricing is changing to reflect the different value each of these experiences drives for businesses and people. Marketing conversations drive incremental sales, while utility conversations facilitate existing sales. Service conversations help resolve customer inquiries.

WhatsApp

According to WhatsApp, a marketing conversation on the messaging app brings a lot more value to a company than an SMS. As WhatsApp is able to make the entire customer journey more enticing, from the first media-based coupon to an automated first chat to a personalized sale to engaging re-activation campaigns, marketing conversations should reflect this cost. Similarly, WhatsApp feels that an authentication message does not bring a lot more value to customers and businesses than a text message.

That's why, starting in June, in some markets, the cost for marketing conversations will increase, while the utility messages will decrease in cost. Service conversations will not change their pricing.

Changes in pricing

For most markets, the pricing will not change. For instance, prices for marketing messages in most European countries, like Germany, France, and Spain will keep the pricing from the previous business-initiated messages. These are some of the countries that will see (slightly) increased costs per conversation (in US dollars):

• Brazil: from 0.05 USD to 0.0625 USD
• India: from 0.0066 USD to 0.0099 USD
• Italy: from 0.0643 USD to 0.0691 USD
• Mexico: from 0.0349 to 0.0436 USD
• South Africa: from 0.0280 USD to 0.0379 USD
• UK: from 0.0647 USD to 0.0705 USD
• Canada and the US: from 0.0147 USD to 0.0250 USD

However, starting March 1, 2023, there will also be an extended window for the free entry point conversations. These will increase from 24 hours to 72 hours. And: if a conversation is initiated through a click-to-chat at, it'll be free of cost.

💡Create your WhatsApp chat link now for free with our WhatsApp chat link generator

New templates

The template system will also change on WhatsApp. Starting now, new templates are available for business messaging. The message category you choose will determine the templates you can choose from.

Any time you send a template message, you'll be charged for starting a new conversation a template message is sent, it will result in a conversation charge, unless you send a conversation of the same category in the 24-hour window.

WhatsApp (Business) updates 2022

Update November 29, 2022

New WhatsApp feature to message yourself

A new feature in the WhatsApp consumer app will allow users to send messages to themselves. WhatsApp has confirmed that the global roll-out will begin in the next few weeks. Sending messages to your account or yourself is a great way to keep important information available directly in WhatsApp chats.

With this new feature,  it'll be possible for users to send notes, reminders, links, media, and more to themselves on WhatsApp. Users will see their own contact at the top of the contact list when they create a new chat. Moreover, these messages can also be pinned at the top of the chat overview to quickly find them in the chats.

Update November 18, 2022

WhatsApp launches "Business Directory" in first countries

WhatsApp has launched its "Business Directory", after testing it in the last year in Brazil, one of its core markets. Now, the Meta company officially started the Business Directory in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia and the UK.

Following a "yellow pages" concept, users in these countries can now use the Directory to search and find companies. Users can either search companies by business type (shopping, hotels, restaurants, banks), or directly by company name to get in touch on WhatsApp.

This new feature allows users for the first time to actively search for a business on WhatsApp, and contact it directly. The Business Directory will make customer acquisition on the app a lot easier for companies. Unlike with competitor Telegram, this feature didn't exist until now on WhatsApp.

Currently, the Business Directory only lists companies that use the WhatsApp Business Platform (formerly: WhatsApp Business API). In Brazil, users can also find companies that use the WhatsApp Business App for small businesses. WhatsApp will probably open up the Directory for more markets and businesses in the future.

The new feature makes it even easier for WhatsApp users to get in touch with companies to make purchases or use customer service. There is no need to search for phone numbers anymore, and all searches are processed in such a way that they cannot be associated with the user's account.

The directory of businesses is another step by WhatsApp to integrate the full shopping experience in the app. According to WhatsApp, the long-term goal is to allow users to securely pay with their credit or debit card directly within the chat. This feature was recently launched in India, and will now be tested in Brazil with multiple payment partners.

Update November 4, 2022

Communities: WhatsApp launches new group features

WhatsApp has begun rolling out the already announced expansion of group chats globally to all users. "Communities" provides administrators of group chats with more options for larger discussion groups. Communities is primarily intended to help organizations, clubs, schools, and other private groups to communicate better and stay organized.

A number of new features are now available for group chats on WhatsApp:

• improved admin control
• Possibility of sub-groups and announcement groups
• Voice and video calls for 32 people
• Sharing of larger files up to 2GB
• Emoji reactions and polls

With WhatsApp's standard end-to-end encryption, these enhanced group chats are a real added value for clubs and private groups to better connect and share, while maintaining full protection of their communications. This is also a clear "attack" on Telegram and the very widely used group channels there, which are not encrypted by default.

Update October 12, 2022

WhatsApp to allow new industries on WhatsApp Business

Great news for pharmacies, drug stores and digital subscription providers! Starting October 25, these types of businesses are now allowed to use WhatsApp Business to offer customer service, send out updates with the marketing newsletter, and sell their products (with some limitations).

Until now, companies from these verticals were excluded (with very few exceptions) from the use of WhatsApp Business by WhatsApp commerce policies. This is about to change!

WhatsApp updated their policies to make it easier for these companies to onboard. October 25, WhatsApp will have a commerce policy (the same as before) and an updated business messaging policy. Depending on the industry, these guidelines will regulate what companies can use which commercial and marketing features of WhatsApp business.

For the new verticals, these are the new requirements and restrictions:

• Pharmacies and drugstores can use all functions, including commerce functions, but only for convenience and food items. They are still not allowed to advertise or sell over the counter or prescription drugs. Drugstores and pharmacies that only offer over the counter and prescritpion drugs are still excluded from WhatsApp Business.
• Digital services and subscriptions can use all possibilities, except sales. This means they can advertise their services, but not sell them directly via WhatsApp. Digital services from streaming to gaming services are now allowed to the platform, but WhatsApp still excludes news aggregators from WhatsApp Business.
• Providers of supplements can also use all WhatsApp Business features, as long as they do not sell directly through WhatsApp. The same restrictions apply to companies that deal with animals, such as the adoption of pets, sale of farm animals, or raw products. The sale of animals that don't count as livestock or are not meant for consumption is still prohibited.

If your company has been excluded from using WhatsApp Business in the past, but fits the new guidelines, you can appeal on or after October 25 when the new policies go live.

Update October 6, 2022

WhatsApp rolls out WhatsApp Premium subscription for businesses

In May 2022, WhatsApp announced that it was planning on launching a subscription model for WhatsApp Business.

The subscription called WhatsApp Premium will give companies with a business profile access to additional features, such as adding a custom link to their profiles or improving the device linking features.

• The custom business link will be a unique short link that can be added to the business profile (for example: https://wa.me/mybusiness). Businesses can use it to guide users to their website or directly initiate a conversation. It will be possible to change the link every 90 days.
• WhatsApp Premium users can also link up to ten devices, which will make it easier for multiple employees to handle customer conversations. Note however that you still won't be able to link WhatsApp Business to your CRM system to save the customer information or conversation history. This is still only possible on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Accordng to Wabetainfo, WhatsApp has started rolling out WhatsApp Premium for select businesses in a few countries. The company is planning a global roll out in the future.

Update September 27, 2022

WhatsApp launches call link sharing feature

Video call and group call links are already known from video call apps. Now the world's most popular messaging app WhatsApp is introducing this feature, allowing users to share a link to a call with friends, family, or interest groups. This fits with Meta's announcement that up to 32 people will soon be able to make an end-to-end encrypted video call together.

Users will find the option to create a video call link under the "Calls" menu tab. Once the link is created, users can easily share it with specific people and let them join the video call with just one click. The validity of the created links is up to 90 days and if an invited person doesn't have WhatsApp installed, they'll be redirected directly to the app store to install the app.

The update is expected to be rolled out to all users worldwide as early as this week.

Update September 22, 2022

WhatsApp Business Update Terms of Service

WhatsApp is now following European Union requirements and updating its terms of service for users of WhatsApp Business services, including the WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business Platform (WhatsApp Business API), as of December 15, 2022.

These adjustments only apply to users of WhatsApp Business services, that is, businesses and users who communicate with businesses. There is no change to the privacy and security for private communications between users via WhatsApp.

For all users worldwide, it will be made clearer how businesses can continue to work with service providers and business solution providers (BSPs), such as Sinch Engage. 

All other changes are related to European regulatory requirements and are expected to comply with all specifications regarding the following aspects as of December:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for data transfers
• European Electronic Communications Code (EECC)
• European Union ePrivacy Directive and Fairness and Transparency Regulation

💡It's important to note that, according to Meta, the mentioned updates won't result in more data being transferred from WhatsApp to Meta.

As soon as the update of the terms and conditions takes place, we'll add the most important details here, if necessary.

Update August 24, 2022

WhatsApp Business Platform (API) updates for marketing and sales

With the constantly growing success of WhatsApp as a marketing and sales channel, the company has now announced comprehensive innovations. These are intended to make it even easier for companies to scale marketing campaigns in the future, to bring them live more quickly and to be able to measure success (ROI) in more detail. The updates now announced refer to the marketing business initiated messages — which are also known to the general public as WhatsApp newsletters or WhatsApp marketing templates.

Template creation and approval

Previously, all templates created by companies were manually reviewed by a WhatsApp team. This process is now automated, reducing the review and approval time from twelve hours to one minute. This now enables short-term campaigns to be implemented and represents a significant advantage for marketers.

Important: If too many users complain and the quality score drops (for instance, due to spam reports), or if WhatsApp later detects violations of its own guidelines, the business number is no longer automatically blocked. Instead, only the corresponding template is paused and the company receives a message indicating which category has been violated.

Also new is that you can now edit the template after it has been approved without having to resubmit it for approval. Small changes include, for example, changing individual words or correcting spelling errors, so that the basic character or content of the template doesn't change. Companies are allowed one edit per day and ten edits per month.

Opt-out button: In the future, users and subscribers will be able to select and unsubscribe from marketing messages. Previously, it was only possible to block the entire business contact or the corresponding number. This now means that companies can continue to send service messages to answer users' requests. Companies will have to integrate this feature by themselves into their templates. It's exciting for quality analysis that the opt-out buttons can include reasons for unsubscribing, which you can then also view and evaluate.

Marketing messages limits

Companies that demonstrate a high quality (quality score) of their marketing messages can increase their message limits faster and have lower minimum message volume requirements.

There are three factors that you need to fulfill, before being able to increase your messaging limit.

1. have a connected phone number
2. a quality rating of medium or high
3. initiate X or more conversations with unique customers in the last seven days, where X is your current messaging limit divided by two.

If you meet all conditions, WhatsApp will increase your messaging limit by one level in 24 hours.

So, if your messaging limit is, for example, 1,000 messages, and you are able to reach 500 unique customers within the seven-day time frame, your limit will be increased to 10,000 after 24 hours of having sent the 500th message. Let's say you reach customer number 500 at 3 PM on Tuesday, your limit will increase to 10,000 messages at 3 PM on Wednesday.

This allows your marketing campaign to scale much faster.

In addition, for companies that are starting out new on the WhatsApp Business Platform, there will be also a new upgrade in messaging limits starting September 30, 2022. The initial business-initiated messaging limits are now 250 unique customers in a rolling 24-hour period (vs. before 50).

Insights on target groups and campaigns

As successful marketing campaigns can only be validated by corresponding data, KPIs for measuring success are essential. WhatsApp is aware of this and will therefore provide more metrics on target groups and campaign performance (such as messages read or sent) in a new, clear dashboard in the Business Manager (WhatsApp Manager). This means that companies can evaluate the ROI (return on investment) of campaigns better and make more precise target group segmentations. All of this helps marketers to make better data-driven decisions.

💡The described features will be rolled out in a first test phase starting September 7 in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, and will then be available worldwide to all WhatsApp Business Platform (API) users and thus also to all our customers starting October.

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Updates: August 9, 2022

WhatsApp Privacy Updates

WhatsApp now allows deleting sent messages within 48 hours. The usually well-informed source WABetaInfo even reports a total of 60 hours. The notification that a message has been deleted remains in place to ensure transparency for the recipient as well.

Mark Zuckerberg has also announced new features for data protection and more privacy:

• Leave groups without notification (only admins of the groups get a notification)
• Control who can see when you're online
• Screenshot blocking for one-time view messages

Update July 12, 2022

WhatsApp Reactions: More interaction possibilities in WhatsApp chats

WhatsApp introduced the long-awaited "reactions to WhatsApp messages" feature in May 2022, which had already been in development since 2021.

In the app, all you have to do is click longer on the message and the emoji menu opens. On WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop, you can simply hover over it and the reactions menu appears. In chats between two people, users can only select one reaction: It's not possible to go back and select a second one. If you go to the menu again, the previous reaction will be replaced.

Until now, it was possible to use the following WhatsApp Reactions:

• Thumbs up 👍
• Heart ❤️
• Crying from laughter 😂
• Surprised face 😮
• Sad crying face 😢
• Thanks 🙏

Now, WhatsApp has expanded those options and any emoji in any shade can now be used as a Reaction too, as Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp at Meta announced in his latest tweet.

🎉 Reactions on @WhatsApp are now even better. We've added support for you to use any emoji you want (in any skin tone) as a reaction, so you can 👏 or 🤷 or 🤦 or 🤯 or 💚 or ... pic.twitter.com/fgV1cXOTfh

— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) July 11, 2022

Update June 10, 2022

Edit messages, undo deletion, plus double verification function

Edit messages after sending

WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to edit their messages after they've been sent. Currently, users can only delete sent messages without the alternative of editing them instead.

In the future, when a message is selected, an editing option can be used in addition to the "copy" and "forward" options for the messages. With one click, users can then correct typos or spelling errors in the messages - even after they have already been sent.

Undo button for deleted messages

Also under development is a button to undo deleted messages. This function allows users to restore a message that was deleted only for themselves. This is especially useful if you had accidentally not selected "delete for everyone" and want to change this.

To undo the deletion, all you have to do is select the deleted message and choose the "Undo" option. Beta users report a time limit, however. It's not clear yet whether users will also be able to restore deleted messages "for everyone", but it would definitely be useful.

Double verification feature

WhatsApp is also working on a double verification feature to increase security. Users will have to go through an additional verification process when they try to log into their WhatsApp account from another smartphone.

This requires users to enter an additional security code that is sent to the registered mobile number. Currently, users only have to enter a six-digit verification code that they receive via their registered number. The double verification feature increases security as users will also be notified if there is an attempt to access the account from other side.

WhatsApp updates 2021

Update September 20, 2021

Add WhatsApp button on Instagram

To make to start of a conversation quick and easy, Instagram makes it possible for companies worldwide to add a WhatsApp click-to-chat-button on their Instagram profile.

💡Create your WhatsApp chat link now for free with our WhatsApp chat link generator

⭐ How to get more users for your WhatsApp service

Update September 2021

Click-to-chat ads now automatically lead to the right messenger ap

With click-to-chat, companies can place ads that go directly into WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger chats. Now, this ad gets a useful update. Until now, companies had to pick the messaging channel they wanted to direct users to. Facebook is now launching an ad option where the feature will automatically detect which messenger channel the individual user prefers to use and direct them to it.

Update July 16, 2021

Use WhatsApp on multiple devices at the same time!

Whooop - WhatsApp can now (finally) be used on multiple devices at the same time!

This gives companies new possibilities in their customer communication. 

• 📱 Also possible without smartphone connection.
• 🖥 Up to 4 devices
• 🔒 End-to-end encryption remains in place
• 🤷 BETA only for now.

Very handy for small businesses that want to offer customer service via WhatsApp in different locations via the WhatsApp Business App, for example.

For our customers nothing changes. Here WhatsApp can always be used by an unlimited number of employees, with different roles and rights, from any device, and around the globe.

Update May 02, 2021

Facebook and Instagram ads directly in WhatsApp

Soon companies will be able to place ads via WhatsApp Business app.

Facebook wants to offer businesses that use WhatsApp Business a new way to place ads. Until now, ads could only be placed via Facebook's ad manager with the help of Click to Chat. Now this functionality is to be integrated directly into the WhatsApp Business app. This function is currently not planned for the WhatsApp Business API.

Update April 12, 2021

WhatsApp Pay now also launches in Brazil!

After the back and forth with WhatsApp Pay in Brazil in June 2020, WhatsApp Pay has now launched with 30 institutions in the country. Facebook Payments has been approved as a "payment initiator" in Brazil. This is reported by the Brazilian newspaper globo.com

The Central Bank (BC) on Tuesday granted the operating permits that allow WhatsApp to carry out bank transfers. Visa and Mastercard also received approvals for two open "payment agreements", such as wire transfer, deposit, prepayment, and domestic. WhatsApp will also be part of the agreement, which will allow transfers through the messaging app.

Under the model approved by the Central Bank, WhatsApp only initiates transactions between customer accounts at the financial institutions where they're account holders. The credential to be used in the application is the Visa or MasterCard debit or prepaid card number.

However, according to BC, transactions can be made from the date WhatsApp makes the functionality available to the customer, and the rate charged for the bank transfer is set by the application.

Update January 7, 2021

WhatsApp term and conditions adjustments: For private communication hardly any changes

For the new year, WhatsApp has updated the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the messaging app. By giving consent, the user now grants, among other things, that certain data can also be shared with Facebook companies and Facebook service providers to connect WhatsApp with other Facebook company products; to ensure the security and integrity of all Facebook company products; and to improve ad and product experiences regarding Facebook company products.

However, this exchange of meta data isn't new and doesn't affect users within the EU, which WhatsApp also explicitly confirms to the media:

No changes to WhatsApp's data sharing practices in the European region (including the UK) resulting from the updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For the avoidance of doubt, it remains the case that WhatsApp does not share WhatsApp user data from the European region with Facebook so that Facebook can use this data to improve its products or ads.

WhatsApp Business T&Cs: what really changes!

In a FAQ article, WhatsApp explains the changes to the terms and conditions and the implications for businesses. The changes to the terms and conditions primarily affect WhatsApp's expanded offering for businesses. The changes to the WhatsApp terms and conditions are intended to ensure security here. Specifically, it is about the Facebook hosting service, the new options such as stores and shopping carts and how users communicate with companies via WhatsApp.