July 2, 2026
By Kevin Paintner
news

WhatsApp defends its upcoming usernames amid major fraud concerns

Edgar Cervantes / Android AuthorityTL;DR WhatsApp is defending its upcoming username feature after the Indian government reportedly raised concerns about fraud and impersonation. India wants answers before rollout, fearing usernames could make it easier for scammers to hide their identities and impersonate people or organizations. WhatsApp says protections are already built in, including reserved usernames

June 18, 2026
By Steve Bailey
news

Google now gives you an easier way to manage WhatsApp backups

Edgar Cervantes / Android AuthorityTL;DR Google is rolling out a new Play services update, featuring a new WhatsApp backup management option in device settings. An updated Google Wallet transaction history experience is also mentioned in the changelog. The update isn’t widely available just yet, but it could roll out to eligible devices in the coming

June 17, 2026
By Hassan Ahmed
news

WhatsApp could let you send voice messages without even opening the app

Edgar Cervantes / Android AuthorityTL;DR WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new home screen widget for voice messages. It will let users record and send voice messages without opening the app. The feature isn’t available for testing yet, but it could arrive with a beta update in the near future. WhatsApp is one of the

May 27, 2026
By Alec Beckman
news

Meta now lets you pay for the pleasure of using Facebook

Taylor Kerns / Android AuthorityTL;DR Meta has announced plans for several new paid subscriptions. Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus, and WhatsApp plus offer additional functionality for $3 to $4 per month. Paid plans featuring additional AI functionality and tools for audience growth are also being tested. Meta is rolling out a handful of new paid subscription

May 17, 2026
By Jesse Hamilton
news

I love WhatsApp, but it desperately needs this feature

Robert Triggs / Android AuthorityI add an item to my shopping cart online, go through the checkout process, but then have a last-minute change of heart. I decide not to buy for whatever reason, expecting the story to end there, but it doesn’t.Less than a day later, the company is already messaging me on WhatsApp

May 13, 2026
By CoinDesk
news

Meta says its new Incognito AI chats are ‘completely private’

Damien Wilde / Android AuthorityTL;DR Meta’s new Incognito Chat with Meta AI feature will provide “a completely private way to interact with AI.” Content from Incognito Chats isn’t accessible by Meta. Incognito Chats will be available in the Meta AI app and WhatsApp in the next few months. Meta’s got a new way for users

January 25, 2026
By
news

You may soon be able to pay for ad-free WhatsApp

Edgar Cervantes / Android AuthorityTL;DR WhatsApp started testing ads in Status and Channels last year. New strings in the app hint that Meta could introduce an ad-free subscription. Ad-free subscriptions are already available for Facebook and Instagram to some users. With as much division there is in the world right now, at least we can