WhatsApp hides a bundle of features that make staying in touch easier and more expressive. These range from text formatting and disappearing messages to background customization, voice alerts, and more. In an interview with socialbites.ca, Sergei Zhitinets, the general manager of Motive Agency & Production, shared insights about these capabilities.
WhatsApp offers text formatting that many users overlook. By placing simple characters around words, users can emphasize parts of their message. For bold text, add an asterisk before and after the target portion. For italics, use underscores in the same way. A tilde creates a strikethrough effect. Users can also long-press on text in the input field to choose formatting similar to what is available in other messaging apps. This makes quick emphasis straightforward without stepping away from the chat.
Another practical option is controlling media storage. People often worry about filling up device memory with photos and videos from chats. To prevent automatic media downloads from clogging space, open the settings, go to the chats section, and turn off media visibility. This keeps the gallery organized while still allowing media to be accessed when desired.
Disappearing messages are a handy tool for conversations with a limited lifespan. The feature can be configured for individual contacts so that messages disappear after a day, a week, or three months. To enable this, navigate to Settings, then Privacy, and choose Disappearing messages. There is an option to enable timers within chats and to specify which chats should follow the timer. This gives users better control over how long conversations remain visible on their devices.
Location sharing is another useful feature. Sending the current location helps in situations where one person cannot quickly find another in a crowded area or a remote setting. As long as there is mobile service, sharing location can reduce delays and confusion during meetups or group activities.
The platform also supports beta testing for new features. Early access invites users to try upcoming capabilities before they are released to the broader audience. In the latest beta builds, WhatsApp is experimenting with converting voice messages to text for those who prefer not to listen to audio. The beta version already includes text conversion across multiple languages, making messages accessible in more situations.
A notable beta capability is the option to use one WhatsApp account on both a smartphone and an Android tablet. This multi-device support is currently available in the beta channel, with broader availability anticipated in future official releases. Such cross-device syncing simplifies staying connected when switching between devices throughout the day.
There has been past reporting that WhatsApp is exploring personalized news delivery as a feature. While these plans have been discussed in various outlets, it remains to be seen how or when such a capability would be rolled out and integrated with user privacy controls. [Citation: Motive Agency & Production via socialbites.ca]