Key Highlights:
- WhatsApp is testing linked secondary accounts for minors, allowing parents to manage safety settings while keeping messages private and encrypted.
- New 1-hour and 12-hour disappearing message timers aim to reduce data retention and automate everyday privacy hygiene.
- A group chat history sharing feature will help new members catch up instantly, reducing friction in fast-moving conversations.
WhatsApp is testing a set of new features designed to enhance safety for younger users, reduce chat clutter, and simplify group conversations. The updates, spotted in recent beta versions on Android and WhatsApp Web, reflect the platform’s growing focus on privacy controls and a more “managed” messaging experience.
From new tools for parents to smarter ways to join group conversations, here is our breakdown of the three biggest features coming to your phone soon.
1. A Safety Net for Families: Linked Accounts for Teens
For parents navigating the digital age, one of the most stressful tasks is managing a child’s first smartphone. WhatsApp is finally stepping in with a dedicated solution.
According to WABetaInfo, the app is developing a system that allows a child’s account to be linked to a parent’s main account as a “secondary profile.”
Think of it as a “Junior Version” of WhatsApp. By default, these accounts will have much tighter security. The most important control? It only allows messages and calls from saved contacts.
This simple change acts as a massive shield, ensuring that strangers or unknown numbers can’t reach your child. It’s a practical, “set-it-and-forget-it” way to keep kids safe while still letting them stay connected with family and friends.
2. The “Self-Cleaning” Inbox: New 1-Hour and 12-Hour Timers
We’ve all sent messages that we don’t need to keep forever, like an OTP (One-Time Password) or even just a grocery list. Currently, the shortest “disappearing message” timer is 24 hours. For many, that’s just too long to leave sensitive info sitting in a chat.
As per recent updates found in the WhatsApp Web and Android beta, the app is testing two new options:
- The 1-Hour Timer: This is perfect for high-stakes, sensitive information such as bank details or temporary passwords. It ensures the data vanishes almost as soon as it’s used, protecting you if your phone (or the recipient’s) ever falls into the wrong hands.
- The 12-Hour Timer: This is the “daily organizer” option. It’s ideal for delivery instructions or shift updates. Tasks that are very important today but completely useless tomorrow.
By automating this cleanup, WhatsApp is helping users maintain a “lean” chat history without the headache of manual deleting. To keep things safe, the app will even show a warning before you turn these on, reminding you that the timer starts the second the message is delivered.
3. Ending the “New Member” Confusion in Group Chats
Joining a busy group chat can feel like arriving late to a movie; you have no idea what’s happening. Usually, new members see a blank screen and have to ask, “Wait, what are we talking about?”
WhatsApp is solving this with a feature called Recent Group Chat History Sharing. When an admin enables this, the app will automatically share a small “snippet” (usually the last 24 hours) of the conversation with anyone who joins.
Allowing new members to catch up instantly on the latest plans or decisions without someone having to repeat everything. Therefore, saving time.
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What’s Next for Your Chats?
From an AI and tech perspective, these updates indicate that WhatsApp is moving toward a “set it and forget it” model of privacy. By automating the cleanup of irrelevant data and building safer structures for families, the app is becoming more than just a chat tool; it’s becoming a managed communication environment that reduces user effort over time.
While these features are still in the testing phase for Web and Android, their rollout will likely set a new standard for how users manage their digital footprint on a day-to-day basis across messaging platforms.
