WhatsApp<\/a> is incredibly popular in South Africa and is the most downloaded free app on the Google Play Store and the third most popular free app on the IOS App Store.<\/p>\n With its popularity, WhatsApp is known for its constant updates and beta testing.<\/p>\n The updates usually bring new features and improvements, while the beta testing program allows a select group of users to test features before they are officially released to the broader public –\u00a0 improving the overall experience.<\/p>\n Here are six recently seen updates for WhatsApp:<\/p>\n Video messaging<\/strong><\/p>\n A new WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.6.0.73 shows work is underway to bring video messages to the platform.<\/p>\n Although WhatsApp already allows for voice notes, the company is now working on adding video messages in a future update.<\/p>\n WABetainfo<\/a> said that the new feature would allow users to record and send 60-second videos to their contacts by simply pushing the camera button.<\/p>\n New desktop app<\/strong><\/p>\n WhatsApp recently announced that a new windows desktop app is now available.<\/p>\n WABetainfo<\/a> said the new app loads faster and allows for audio calls with up to 32 people and group video calls of 8 people.<\/p>\n The new app also offered end-to-end encryption messages across all devices, with better syncing and other new features.<\/p>\n Official chat<\/strong><\/p>\n WhatsApp has also officially launched a new chat where users on IOS and Android can receive the latest updates and news regarding the app.<\/p>\n According to WABetainfo<\/a>, the new chat will feature a green tick so that users can verify that the account is legitimate.<\/p>\n It is currently only possible to open the official chat if a user has received a message from it.<\/p>\n Improved privacy<\/strong><\/p>\n The meta-owned messenger is also rolling out new features for group admins to improve privacy on Android and IOS.<\/p>\n WABetainfo<\/a> said that group admins can now decide who can join a group when sharing a group invite link or making a group joinable without sending a private message to the community admin.<\/p>\n Users can now see if they have any groups in common with other users. WhatsApp will now allow users to search for groups a contact is a member of by searching their name.<\/p>\n Voice status updates<\/strong><\/p>\n WhatsApp for iOS 23.5.75 is also rolling out voice status updates.<\/p>\n WABetaifno<\/a> said that some of its community have not been able to access the feature. It said certain users might have to wait a few weeks to access the new feature.<\/p>\n Voice notes on a status can not be longer than 30 seconds, and users can share their voice notes from their chats to their status.<\/p>\n New emojis<\/strong><\/p>\n The Android 2.23.5.13 beta also introduced 21 new emojis with Unicode 15.0 for some beta testers.<\/p>\n The 21 new emojis address a problem where users could receive these emojis but could not send them without workarounds.<\/p>\n
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