WhatsApp on Monday introduced two new features – Flash calls and Message level reporting to boost user safety. The two new features are in addition to the multiple options that the Meta-owned messaging platform offers to its users.
The all-new Flash calls option adds the option to verify the user’s phone number through an automated call instead of an SMS. This enhances user account safety in case the phone has been stolen, and a hacker can now use messages. Similarly, users can report accounts to WhatsApp by flagging a specific message with the message level reporting.
WhatsApp says that these two features have been introduced to ensure that the user experience remains secure. Apart from end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp offers a slew of safety features like blocking contacts, control over what to share with whom, disappearing messages, and locking the app with Touch ID or Face ID. The instant messaging app has rolled out flash calls and message level reporting features as part of its efforts to make the platform more secure.
Flash Calls
Until now, every time you changed your phone, you needed a code that came through a text message to activate your WhatsApp account on the new device. With Flash calls, WhatsApp is adding another option with which users can choose to receive an automated call for verifying their phone number.
This means that Flash calls allow WhatsApp to call their device and verify automatically, eliminating the need for any other text message-based verification. The messaging platform says this new option is much safer than SMS verification. WhatsApp adds that the Flash calls take place all from within the app.
Message Level Reporting
It allows users to flag particular messages on the platform. All they need to do is, long-press a specific message, they can then choose to report or block the user. Users can simply long-press a particular message to either report or block a user.
Other safety features introduced by WhatsApp include the ability to control who sees a user profile photo, last seen, about, and Status. It also enables users to block accounts if required. WhatsApp also offers two-step verification to users to add an extra layer of security. In this year, the company introduced disappearing messages and View Once as well.
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