Do you have a friend who shares your messages? WhatsApp could finally save the day with a new option... even if screenshots remain a difficult method to counter.
WhatsApp seems determined to become the safe for your conversations. The application is currently testing a new feature, called "advanced confidentiality," aimed at limiting the spread of your messages outside the platform. Available in beta for Android and iOS, this option blocks the export of chat histories and the automatic saving of shared media. One more step towards total control of your data... but not invincible armor.
The principle is simple: activated in the settings of each chat (individual or group), this function prevents participants from exporting all exchanges to other applications. No more downloadable text files, no more automatic saving of photos or videos in the recipient's gallery. The icing on the cake, Meta AI, the assistant capable of generating images or answering questions, is also deactivated in the discussions concerned. A subtle way to limit leaks, even if WhatsApp specifies that screenshots remain possible.
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A useful barrier... but not infallible
Despite Despite these locks, confidentiality has its limits. Nothing prevents a contact from photographing the screen or manually copying messages. The feature only complicates mass exfiltrations, without making them impossible. "It's like putting a padlock on a diary... leaving the key under the doormat," summarizes one beta user. To maximize discretion, WhatsApp is reminding users of the existence of ephemeral messages, which self-destruct after a set period of time.
Activating the option triggers a notification in the group, informing all members of the new setting. This transparency could deter the most talkative, but also create tensions if some feel their freedom is restricted.
For now, the feature remains in the testing phase, with no official release date. Ordinary users will have to be patient, but one thing is certain: WhatsApp is banking on controlled trust. By allowing you to lock chat by chat, the platform offers a flexible tool... double-edged sword. What is certain is that some will see it as a way to protect sensitive exchanges (bank details, medical information), even if others will find that it makes the application more complex.
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