With increasing digitalization, data protection online is becoming increasingly important. That's why WhatsApp now wants to equip its users with a new function.
Munich – More and more companies are being forced to better protect their users’ data from third-party providers – including WhatsApp. As a result, a new function was introduced that is currently not available to all users of the popular messenger (as of April 10th). This makes it possible to optionally deactivate the link preview in messages.
Hide link preview: This is why the new function in WhatsApp is important
So far only selected users of the beta 24.7.10.76 for iOS can access the function. However, this should soon be available to everyone as an update in the App Store and Google Play Store. The innovation was introduced primarily to protect privacy. This prevents “third-party websites from tracking interactions,” explains
WABetaInfo
.
The online portal continues: “The introduction of this function is a significant improvement for the user experience, as it allows users to deactivate the link preview in order to protect their IP addresses from possible inferences by third-party websites.” The risk of tracking and violation of privacy can be reduced.
To disable link previews, you need to go to the advanced settings in WhatsApp. If the switch (see screenshot) is activated, Messenger no longer shows previews for links. However, this only applies to the user who has activated the function. All users who do not use the function can still send links with previews.
Contact suggestions for networking: WhatsApp is launching another function
In addition, WhatsApp will be getting another function in the near future. Unlike deactivating the link preview, this has nothing to do with data protection, but merely serves to facilitate networking.
WABetaInfo
writes: “This feature is designed to improve engagement and interaction between users.”
Specifically, these are contacts that WhatsApp suggests for chatting. As you can see from the screenshot, the suggestions are displayed in a separate section at the bottom of the chat list. This gives users “convenient access to potential new conversations without changing their existing chat order,” it says on the portal.
Selected beta users already have the opportunity to try out the feature. The innovation should be available to everyone within the next few weeks. But that's not all: further updates for the messenger are planned for 2024, including new emojis. For this purpose, colors are introduced that can be adjusted in the app.
(cln)