WhatsApp may soon offer a new feature that allows users to share content with many followers through a private space in the Status tab, according to recent reports. The “Newsletter” feature was discovered by WABetaInfo in a beta version of WhatsApp for Android, which included references to the unannounced tool. While the exact details of the feature are unknown, it is said to hide names and other contact details by default, offering users a private way to communicate with many followers.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, declined to comment on the matter. However, this is the first beta version to mention the Newsletter feature, which suggests that it may not be ready for testing anytime soon. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that WhatsApp will release newsletters as a finished product.
If the feature does get released, it is not surprising, given that WhatsApp is not just a messaging service but also a source of information for its users. Users often forward messages and receive news through group discussions. Newsletters could simplify some of the information delivery, making it easier for users to keep up-to-date with the latest news and events.
Moreover, Meta has been pivoting towards privacy-oriented services for years, including communities that link multiple group chats. The addition of newsletters could expand WhatsApp’s functionality without turning it into a Facebook-style social network.
