TechNew WhatsApp feature to clear unread messages and block scammers

New WhatsApp feature to clear unread messages and block scammers

WhatsApp plans another new feature
WhatsApp plans another new feature
Images source: © Getty Images | NurPhoto

12:43 PM EDT, August 27, 2024

WhatsApp is working on a new feature for its messaging app. Soon, it will introduce a button that allows users to clear their entire list of unread messages at once. This is ideal for users who purposely ignore certain conversations.

Using WhatsApp or any other messenger with a large group of friends can quickly result in a cluttered chat list with numerous conversations that some may no longer follow. WhatsApp plans to introduce a new button that will mark all messages in these chats as read, helping to organize the chat list on the home screen.

The new WhatsApp feature is already being tested among beta users. According to WABetaInfo, it appeared in the latest Android release, version 2.24.18.11. The exact date for bringing this button to WhatsApp's stable version is unknown. However, based on past experiences, from the start of beta testing, users often have to wait a few weeks for the feature to be implemented, and at most, a few months.

The WhatsApp team is also working on other new features. Developers are preparing an option to block messages from unknown senders automatically. This is a significant security measure to prevent phishing attacks, which are increasingly common and often executed through WhatsApp.

One of the more prevalent fraud methods involves impersonating buyers on platforms such as OLX, Allegro, or Vinted. Scammers make fake purchase offers, claiming they have transferred the money, and then ask the seller to click a link and fill out a form, which results in data theft.