WhatsApp Beta Adds for Safety Tools 6z221u Allows Testers to Forward Messages to New Group

WhatsApp will soon let you create a new group with a couple of taps while forwarding a message. e336x

Written by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 27 July 2023 14:20 IST

WhatsApp Beta Adds for Safety Tools, Allows Testers to Forward Messages to New Group

Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Boliviainteligente 28215q

WhatsApp is expected to roll out both beta features to s on the stable channel in the future

Highlights

WhatsApp has started testing two new features on the latest beta update
These features could improve safety and make it easier to create groups
WhatsApp is yet to officially announced plans to introduce these features

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WhatsApp has started testing two new features on Android aimed at helping s stay safe on the messaging service while making it easier to forward messages to a group of s. The new security-oriented feature simply surfaces existing tools on WhatsApp to make it easier for s to deal with unwanted on the Meta-owned messaging service. These features have been rolled out to some s who have signed up to receive beta versions of WhatsApp for Android and are likely to roll out to all s at a later date.

As part of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.6 update, the messaging platform has rolled out for a new Safety tools section that shows up when an unknown person — or business — messages you for the first time. The new card, spotted on the beta release by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, also informs you about how profile photos work on the service and how to check the phone number of the sender.

Screenshots of both features shared by the feature tracker
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

According to a screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, the messaging app will display a card with two options that allow you to block or report an unknown sender when they message you for the first time. These are options that already exist on the platform — WhatsApp has offered blocking and reporting for years. However, making them more easily accessible could help s deal with unwanted spam with a couple of taps.

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The new safety tools tab will also inform you that profile photos and s are set by s on WhatsApp and not verified by the platform. This is presumably to warn s to be careful when texting unknown s and to protect themselves from scams that are popular on messaging apps. WhatsApp also asks s to check the country code while responding to messages from known senders.

Meanwhile, WABetaInfo reports that the recently released WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.3 update adds a feature that could make it easy for you to share details with a group of s on the platform. After updating to the beta version, you should see an option to create a new group at the top right corner of the screen, when you are forwarding a message on WhatsApp.

The shortcut to create a group while forwarding a message is likely to make it easier to share content on WhatsApp. On the stable version of WhatsApp, you'll need to create a group first, then go to to the message you want to forward and select the newly created group.

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It is worth noting that both these new features are currently in beta testing and there is no word on when they will be released to all s on the stable channel. WhatsApp is yet to roll out these features to testers on iOS — which suggests that it could be a few weeks before they are available for all s on iOS and Android.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Further reading: WhatsApp beta

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be ed via email at [email protected], on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More