WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.12.25: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.12.25.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to ask some users to enter their birth year to comply with recent legislation in certain U.S. states, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Birth Year |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is working on introducing a feature to ask certain users to enter their birth year, for a future update of the app. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature is under development so it's not ready for beta testers, but it is possible to discover a preview in this article. |
| Previous news? | Mark Zuckerberg announced new AI-powered business features and Meta Verified for WhatsApp! |
BIRTH YEAR
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.5.18 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a chat interoperability feature to comply with new EU regulations. Through this feature, WhatsApp aims to facilitate user communication across multiple apps as mandated by the Digital Markets Act in the European region. This means that users in Europe will have the option to enable third-party chat support within their WhatsApp account, expanding their communication options beyond the platform. It appears that WhatsApp is always committed to meeting all new regulations to align with the recent legal requirements in specific countries to ensure compliance in accordance with evolving standards. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.12.25 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to prompt certain users for their birth year!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, it looks like WhatsApp is in the process of developing a new section aimed at prompting select users to input their birth year. This requirement is scheduled for release in specific countries at a later date. This update likely comes in response to recent legislation in certain U.S. states, including Texas, that mandates online services to verify the age of their users this year. In these U.S. states, entering a birth date will be required to use WhatsApp, and once entered, the birth date cannot be changed.
It’s very important to mention that the birth year information collected by WhatsApp will not be visible to other users. This step is purely for regulatory compliance and does not impact the privacy and security of user interactions on WhatsApp. WhatsApp can ensure it meets these regulatory standards to comply with the latest legal requirements by asking users to enter their birth year in certain U.S. states. It is evident that WhatsApp remains committed to safeguarding user data while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations to adhere to legal requirements.
A feature to ask certain users to enter their birth year is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. We will share another article once we have new information about this feature.
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