WhatsApp users won’t have to leave the app to browse the internet
FILE – In this Nov. 15, 2018, file photo the icons of Facebook and WhatsApp are pictured on an iPhone in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Mark Zuckerberg’s privacy memo is a maneuver to make more palatable the planned merging of the instant-messaging services of WhatsApp, Instagram with Facebook’s core Messenger app, analysts say.Photo/Martin Meissner, File) Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp has submitted the beta version of its next update that supports an in-app browser, a feature that is still under development.
WhatsApp version 2.19.74 would show the in-app browser every time the user tries to open a link shared over the app, WABetaInfo reported on Friday.
“If you choose to use the in-app browser when it will be available in future, you should not worry because WhatsApp or Facebook would not be able to access your search history because the feature uses an Android Application Programming Interface (API), so everything is managed by the system,” the report said.
The feature is also being built to detect unsafe pages using the “Safe Browsing” feature which was added to Android 8.1 last year. It would alert users when a page is infected with malicious content.
What This Means for Users
The overall WhatsApp user experience might be revolutionized by the new in-app browser. At the moment, opening a link on WhatsApp takes users to a third-party browser, such as Chrome or Safari, which frequently disrupts multitasking or discussions. The new method will make browsing faster and more seamless by enabling users to open web pages without ever leaving the app.
This action is in line with Meta’s plan to expand WhatsApp’s functionality beyond messaging to include shopping, payments, and, most recently, content consumption. In an effort to retain users in the ecosystem for longer, the company has already launched tools like WhatsApp Pay, business catalogs, and communities.
Safety and privacy are still of utmost importance. WhatsApp won’t save or access any browsing data because the browser depends on Android’s system-level API. Users can also feel secure knowing that their clicks are shielded from malware and phishing attacks thanks to the integrated Safe Browsing feature.
Although testing is ongoing, the feature may initially be made available to Android beta testers before being made available to everyone. This minor yet significant feature could completely change how millions of people engage with shared content on a daily basis as WhatsApp develops further, making the app more flexible and intuitive than ever.
