With the messenger service WhatsApp, messages can be edited after they have been sent in the future to correct typos – but with a time limit.
Mountain View/Kassel – "The child is finally in the office!" Such news has probably not surprised anyone in times of autocorrection for a long time. Because almost every smartphone user knows what is meant here. Of course, the little angel slumbers blissfully in his bed and has not gone off with the briefcase.
If you make a typo in a WhatsApp message, it's often funny, but most of the time it's just confusing. For this reason, WhatsApp is now coming up with an innovation, as the company explains on its website on May 22, 2023. In the event that you have made a mistake while writing unnoticed, the messenger service now offers a new function: the subsequent editing of messages.
New WhatsApp feature: Edit messages after sending them
There are always innovations at WhatsApp, most recently there have also been extensive changes that affected data protection. This is especially important because the messenger service is repeatedly used by criminals for fraudulent activities. Many consumers have requested the edit function. Nevertheless, it took a long time before WhatsApp finally implemented them.
| Name: | WhatsApp Inc. |
| Foundation: | 2009 (since 2014 part of the Facebook group Meta) |
| Function: | Instant messaging service |
| Office: | Mountain View, California (USA) |
| Number of users worldwide: | > 2 billion in 180 countries (according to their own figures) |
Edit function on WhatsApp – why it took so long
As early as December 2016, the subsidiary of Facebook's parent company Meta announced its intention to enable such a function, as the online portal giga.de writes. The company does not say anything about the reasons for the large period of time in between. Concerns may also have played a role if in the future everyone will be able to change their messages afterwards as they wish.
Time limit: WhatsApp messages can only be edited for 15 minutes
In order to prevent misunderstandings and to put a stop to the confusion, WhatsApp has built in a time lock when editing: Subsequent editing is only possible up to 15 minutes after sending. So the additional control over one's own messages has limits. The intention behind this is probably that the function can be misused less easily and that the proverbial word cannot be turned around in the recipient's mouth.
WhatsApp is introducing an editing feature for messages. © Muhammed Ibrahim/IMAGO
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Edit WhatsApp messages afterwards: This is how it works
Other messenger services such as Telegram have had an edit function for a long time. With WhatsApp, you can enter the corresponding mode by tapping on a sent message and holding it down. Then select "Edit" in the menu that appears and enter the corrected text. The message will then appear as "edited".
WhatsApp states on its website that the correction feature will be rolled out worldwide. The changeover has already begun. In the coming weeks, the function will be available to all users.
