WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.22.27: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.22.27.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to add verified Instagram profile links, and it will be available in a future update!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.7.9 update, we announced that a feature to let users add a social media profile link to their profile was available. This feature allows users to include a link to their Instagram account directly on their WhatsApp profile, improving discoverability and making it easier to share their online presence. Once added, the link appears in the chat info screen, where it can be easily accessed by people based on the user's privacy settings. It seems that WhatsApp is interested in enhancing its identity verification system, enabling these links to be officially recognized in the future. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.22.27 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to add verified Instagram profile links!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will enable users to add a verified profile link through Meta's Accounts Center, scheduled for release in a future update. Accounts Center is a centralized platform developed by Meta that allows users to manage connected experiences across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Through this system, users can link and control multiple accounts, settings, and cross-app functionalities in one place, including enabling single sign-on across apps and customizing avatars.

By linking both their WhatsApp and Instagram accounts in the Accounts Center, users will be able to verify that the Instagram account they add to their WhatsApp profile genuinely belongs to them. This verification process confirms the ownership of the linked Instagram account, which provides a higher level of trust and authenticity for anyone viewing the profile link on WhatsApp. This means that when other users see the Instagram link on someone's WhatsApp profile, they can be confident that the link is genuine and officially associated with that person.

Currently, anyone can add any Instagram link to their WhatsApp profile, regardless of whether the account actually belongs to them or not. For example, someone could add the official Instagram profile link of WhatsApp without actually owning or managing that account. This could potentially cause confusion or misuse, as other users might mistakenly believe they are interacting with the legitimate owner of that Instagram profile when they are not. The new verification feature aims to prevent this situation by ensuring that only Instagram accounts verified through the Accounts Center can display the verified label on WhatsApp profiles.

Despite the introduction of this verification system, users will still retain the option to add non-verified Instagram links to their profiles. This option caters to those who prefer not to connect their WhatsApp account to the Accounts Center or who simply do not want to verify their links. Since linking a WhatsApp account through the Accounts Center is completely optional, WhatsApp will continue to allow users to add unverified links, ensuring that no one is forced to connect their account to the Accounts Center.

This feature could be particularly useful for public figures and anyone aiming to maintain a trusted presence across multiple social media platforms, similar to how verification works on Discord. By providing an official way to confirm ownership of linked accounts, it adds an important layer of credibility and authenticity to the social media links that users share on WhatsApp. This verification process will help reduce the risk of impersonation, misleading information, or the presence of fake accounts pretending to represent someone else.

It's important to note that Instagram remains the only supported platform at this time. However, WhatsApp may still be interested in expanding this feature to support additional services in the future, beyond just Instagram profile links. This could include verified links to other social media platforms, making it easier for users to connect all their important profiles in one place while ensuring their authenticity. Such an expansion would give users more flexibility in showcasing their online presence directly within WhatsApp.

A feature that allows users to add verified Instagram profile links is under development and it will be available in a future update. We will keep you updated with an additional article as soon as we have more details to share about this feature.

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