WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.8.7: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.8.7.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that aligns privacy settings for minors with law in Brazil, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | WhatsApp Privacy Update in Brazil |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.8.7 has been designated as a compatible update. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming days. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.8.6: what's new? WhatsApp is working on a feature that aligns the app with India's mandatory SIM linkage rule! |
WhatsApp is rolling out stricter privacy settings for minors in Brazil
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.5.1 update, we announced a feature that would have aligned the app with law in Brazil. This functionality will automatically update privacy settings for younger users, making available options more restrictive. With this law, the government aims to promote online safety for minors by limiting public visibility. Impacted users will be notified of these changes, so they understand which settings were adjusted.
When we published the news three weeks ago, the feature was still under development. This allowed WhatsApp to finalize how privacy settings would be adjusted in Brazil. With the latest update, WhatsApp is now ready to make these changes available to some users. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.8.7 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that aligns privacy settings for minors with law in Brazil.
As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new feature that automatically adjusts their privacy settings. In some countries, WhatsApp asks users to provide their age. This information is needed because certain protections must be applied depending on the age entered. For example, WhatsApp will allow younger users to securely use the app if their parents enable primary controls. As a result, WhatsApp plans to introduce more adjustments based on the age entered in select countries in the future.
This is the case for some users in Brazil. WhatsApp is now updating their privacy settings to make them more restrictive. Following a new regulation issued by the Brazilian government as part of the ECA Digital law on the protection of children and adolescents in digital environments, platforms must ensure higher levels of privacy and safety by default for young users. For WhatsApp, this means that minors cannot choose the "Everyone" option for certain privacy settings.
To make privacy settings more protective for younger users, WhatsApp is gradually adjusting the Last Seen and Online option. This setting controls who can see when a user was last active on WhatsApp and whether they are currently online. After installing the latest update, if this privacy setting is set to "Everyone", WhatsApp will automatically switch it to "My Contacts". This prevents unknown users from seeing when a young user is online or last active.
WhatsApp is also updating privacy settings for About. This section lets users share a short status or description that appears on their profile. Users often share personal details, such as their interests, hobbies, school, or other information that could identify them. By adjusting who can see this information, WhatsApp helps younger users control what personal details are visible to others while aligning with the law.
Users can also share social links on their profile. These links include accounts on Facebook and Instagram. While sharing them can help friends connect and discover more about the user, it also presents privacy risks if profile links are visible to strangers. This means that unknown accounts could easily reach minors on their social media accounts. By updating privacy settings, WhatsApp ensures that younger users' social links are only visible to trusted contacts.
Impacted users may receive a notice in the app that these three options will be updated automatically. However, it is important to note that only minors are affected, and only those who currently have "Everyone" selected for one of the three privacy settings. Minors who install the app for the first time will see privacy settings for Last Seen, About, and Links automatically set to "My Contacts". In addition, young users will not be able to choose "Everyone" in their privacy settings until they reach the age of legal independence.
The feature that aligns privacy settings for minors with law in Brazil is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store. This feature is currently being rolled out to some beta testers in Brazil. Meanwhile, WhatsApp continues to monitor its performance and ensure a bug-free experience. Once this testing is complete, WhatsApp will release this feature to a wider audience. This rollout will allow more users in Brazil to benefit from enhanced privacy protections.
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