Status: 18.12.2023, 15:25 PM
By: Yannick Hanke
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WhatsApp once again has a big innovation in store for its users. The messenger service has a new feature. This concerns the profile picture.
Kassel – Changes, new functions, general updates – all of this is not uncommon with WhatsApp. The popular messenger service always comes up with innovations for its users, which are sometimes directly visible, but sometimes also hidden. WhatsApp users are not always aware of the advantage that the innovation brings.
But for the most part, the updates on WhatsApp only promise positive things. This also applies to the new, practical feature on WhatsApp. If you press your profile picture for a longer period of time, you will benefit from it and, above all, save time. But what exactly is meant?
New feature on WhatsApp: Longer tapping on the profile picture saves users a lot of time
A little look back: In recent months, WhatsApp has repeatedly rolled out new functions that are intended to make it easier for users of the messenger service to use and the clarity more appealing. We are working on features that can be activated by pressing the send button for a long time or by double-clicking on a message.
The success story of WhatsApp – and constant criticism of the messenger service
The instant messaging service WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. WhatsApp can be used to exchange text messages, image, video and sound files, as well as location information, documents and contact details between two people or in larger group chats.
Since spring 2015, internet-based telephony via WhatsApp has also been possible. A year earlier, Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook group acquired WhatsApp. Since then, both Facebook and WhatsApp have repeatedly been targeted by privacy advocates. They were faced with investigations into data breaches. In addition, the commercial reuse of private WhatsApp data as well as the safeguarding of users' privacy and informational self-determination was and is controversial. Meanwhile, a new function is supposed to guarantee better protection for calls via WhatsApp.
Despite all the criticism, WhatsApp has become more and more popular. The messenger service is largely credited with replacing SMS. According to the results of an ARD/ZDF online study from 2022, 82 percent of the German population aged 14 and over use WhatsApp in the year in question alone.
In addition, WhatsApp introduced the use of two accounts at the same time on a smartphone a few months ago. An innovation that a large number of users who use WhatsApp primarily for professional purposes have been waiting for a long time. At this point, a new function in the messenger service never comes into play.
Use of the second WhatsApp account on a smartphone possible – setup is simple by pressing on the profile picture for a long time
Opening a second account on WhatsApp is quite easy with a small but fine trick. All you have to do is press and hold on the respective profile picture on the messenger service. A pop-up menu will then open, which can then be used to add a second account, according to netzwelt.de and chip.de, among others. By pressing on the profile picture, you can also easily switch between the accounts.
Messenger service WhatsApp once again has an innovation in store for its users. If you press on your profile picture for a longer time, you can open a second account without spending much time. © Rüdiger Wölk/imago/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa/Montage
In order for WhatsApp users to be able to set up a second account with the messenger service, a second phone number is mandatory. The smartphone to be used must also support multi-SIM or eSIM. To date, however, this new feature on WhatsApp is only available for Android users. If you swear by iOS, you'll have to be patient. In the meantime, another update promises better event planning in group chats on WhatsApp - but so far only iOS users of the beta version have access to it. (han)