WhatsApp has unveiled a new feature that enables users to edit sent messages to improve the user experience. This feature makes the well-known messaging applications on par with their rivals, who have long provided similar features, such as Telegram and Signal. The new feature was announced by WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, on Monday and is anticipated to be made available to the app’s estimated 2 billion users in the upcoming weeks.
In a blog post, WhatsApp said, “We’re thrilled to offer you more control over your chats, from editing a simple misspelling to adding extra context to a message.” Users may now edit messages after they’ve been sent to correct errors or add more information. Simply long-press on an already sent message and choose “Edit” from the menu within a 15-minute timeframe to use this feature.
Once a message has been edited, an “edited” tag will appear next to it, alerting recipients to the change. The receiver won’t be able to see the precise changes that were made to the message, though. This feature gets a balance between allowing users to rectify mistakes and upholding message edits’ transparency at the same time.
With this upgrade, WhatsApp is catching up to its rivals, although other platforms have long had message-editing features. For instance, messaging applications like Signal and Telegram have included this feature, and even Twitter offers a 30-minute message editing window as part of its Twitter Blue membership service.
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Meta, who owns WhatsApp in addition to Facebook and Instagram, is well-known for trying to copy popular features from competing applications. Following a failed attempt to acquire Snapchat, Meta introduced Instagram Stories in 2013, which was a popular feature on Snapchat. The conglomerate also tried to imitate some features from applications like Nextdoor and Cameo. However, it abolished its efforts later on.
With an eye on serving public figures and creators, Meta is getting ready to launch a platform similar to Twitter as early as June. The company’s decision to launch a text-based social platform reflects its objective of broadening its portfolio of social media platforms and growing its products.
Users can anticipate more freedom and control in their communication as WhatsApp prepares to roll out this new feature. The ability to edit sent messages within 15 minutes would surely improve WhatsApp’s enormous user base’s overall messaging experience, whether it’s adding context or correcting a typo.
