WhatsApp Reportedly Enhancing Privacy Measures with Option to Hide Link Thumbnails

WhatsApp has started the rollout of a new privacy feature that gives users the power to control the privacy settings of links shared in their chats. Although not officially announced yet, the feature has been spotted on select beta testing accounts. Additionally, WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new video viewing feature within the app. A recent report suggested that the company is working on a Lock Chats feature for linked devices, which is expected to be updated in the future. The Chat Lock feature was initially introduced for the smartphone in May 2023.

As reported by Android Police, WhatsApp has started rolling out the link privacy feature to some beta testers. This feature enables users to disable link previews, prevent thumbnail previews and related article data from appearing alongside links. As a result, no identifiable information related to the link will be disclosed to unauthorized persons browsing through the chats. Additionally, the feature is expected to streamline chats and increase navigational ease, while also playing a crucial role in preventing potential data leaks. Beta testers of WhatsApp can access this feature by navigating to Privacy > Advanced under the WhatsApp Settings menu and selecting the Disable link preview option.

WhatsApp testing new video viewing facility
Meanwhile, according to a report by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the company is in the process of developing a new video viewing feature. The feature will enable users to view videos shared between contacts on the app in a picture-in-picture segment within the app. This functionality mirrors the picture-in-picture feature available when viewing YouTube and Instagram videos shared on WhatsApp.

The report highlights that this picture-in-picture viewing of WhatsApp media videos is only accessible within the WhatsApp app, not extended to other apps. As a result, users can watch a video sent by a contact, exit the chat, and join other chats or groups in WhatsApp while the video continues in a small window. Additionally, the report mentions that the feature is currently in the development stage and is not yet ready for rollout to beta testers. Consequently, it may not be available for public release in the near future.