Speech bubbles next to profile pictures: WhatsApp overhauls "Info function"
WhatsApp is updating one of the messenger's first features. The "Info line" will be placed more visibly and is intended to be used more frequently again.
Meta wants to breathe new life into WhatsApp's “info line.” According to its statements, it was one of the first features in WhatsApp to let contacts know “what's happening in your life.” The info function will be placed more visibly, according to the company, and, as WhatsApp wishes, should be “more current and easier to use.”
More information than “I'm using WhatsApp”
The new info line now appears as a speech bubble next to your avatar in individual chats and in your profile. According to According to WhatsApp, you can place an emoji in the info line and write a short sentence about what the user is up to. Or what you want to talk about. Ultimately, WhatsApp wants to bring more interaction to the app. Unfortunately, Meta does not say whether this function is end-to-end encrypted like the messages themselves. Users can decide who can see the info. They can choose between “Everyone,” “My contacts,” “My contacts except…” and “Nobody.”
(Image:Â heise medien)
According to WhatsApp, you should also be able to reply directly to a person's info by tapping on it in the chat. The info expires by default after one day. However, there is the option to set a shorter or longer period. To select the desired duration, open the settings and tap on “Set info.”
To make it as easy as possible to start using the info function, Meta offers some pre-written options such as “Ready to chat,” “Replies may take a while,” or “Excited.” Emojis can also be added as desired, of course. According to WhatsApp, the function should be rolled out to all users.
Videos by heise
Most recently, WhatsApp's entire member directory of 3.5 billion users was “scraped,” as it was accessible online unprotected, according to researchers at the University of Vienna. This included, among other things, phone numbers and other profile data, including public keys. Meta refers to this process as scraping and says that the data collected in the study has been securely deleted. There were also no indications that it was misused by malicious actors.
(afl)
