WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new feature which could make it easier for users to interact with the information shared in WhatsApp Chats, as reported by WABetaInfo. Available only to some select users, the feature called “Message Text Actions” or “Smart Text Actions,” is designed to automatically detect details like phone numbers, dates, addresses and email IDs, then offers contextual shortcuts directly within conversations. As per the report, the feature is being introduced on both Android and iOS users of WhatsApp and is made to reduce the need to copy and paste information from other apps.
How the new Message Text Actions feature of WhatsApp is said to work
The feature is created to automatically identify supported text formats within both incoming and outgoing messages. Whenever WhatsApp spots a phone number, date, address or email address in a message, it will automatically draw a dotted underline beneath that text. When the user taps on the underline a popup will appear on the screen that shows the text WhatsApp detected at the top. This will enable the users to check the text and make sure that the app picked the correct message. Users who don’t wish to use the shortcut can simply ignore it and can carry on with their conversation.
Works with sent and received messages
One of the important aspects of this update is that the shortcuts are not limited to messages received from contacts. The feature also works for the messages sent by the user, as this will make it easier for the users to interact with the information which was already present in the previous conversation. The report further adds that WhatsApp will also display the detected text in a pop-up menu, enabling the users to verify that the app has identified the information correctly before they proceed with any action.
What each shortcut does
* Phone numbers: Users can copy the number, add it to contacts or place a call through their phone carrier. For business numbers, they can also see the business’s information.* Dates and times: Users are able to add the date to their calendar, copy it or make a new event within WhatsApp.* Addresses: Users are also allowed to copy the address and open it directly in maps.* Email addresses: Users can also open the address in their mail app or copy it.WABetaInfo noted that some of these actions already existed, but WhatsApp is now making them easier to find and use.
Privacy remains unchanged
After a user picks an action, WhatsApp asks whether it was useful. If the user says it wasn’t, they can say whether the app detected the wrong text or the action wasn’t needed. WABetaInfo said this only sends WhatsApp a flag and not the message content. The tracker also said the detection happens entirely on the device, using pattern-matching rules, so WhatsApp never receives the message content or the suggestion. As a result, the feature does not affect end-to-end encryption.
Availability
The feature is currently being rolled out to select users running the latest versions of WhatsApp on Android and iOS, with wider availability expected in the coming weeks.
