WhatsApp to extend the deadline for deleting sent messages
WhatsApp is beta-testing an update that extends the deadline of the 'Delete for Everyone' feature on the chat app. Earlier, users could not delete a message after 420 seconds (7 minutes) of sending it, but now the time frame to delete a sent message has been increased to 4,096 seconds (68 minutes and 16 seconds). The update has come to version 2.18.69 on Android.
The update to fix GIF crashes as well
Apart from this, the new update also fixes a GIF crash bug that was affecting a large number of users. The app had been receiving complaints that users were not able to add GIFs in their messages as the feature would stop working as soon the GIF screen was opened. Notably, users can send GIFs via WhatsApp Web as a long-winded workaround.
WhatsApp Stickers to go live in the next update
According to media reports, the company has also made some changes to the upcoming Stickers feature in the update, possibly modifying some emojis into stickers and upgrading the Stickers icon. Currently, the feature is hidden in the chat app and is disabled by default. WhatsApp Stickers, to shortly go live, will allow users to send and forward stickers in the app along with messages.
WhatsApp working on a forward message tag feature
Finally, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a forward message tag feature which will mark/tag every forwarded message in a chat. The feature aims to make users aware of the nature of the message and help them fight off spam and an overload of forward messages.