All articles tagged with #messaging
WhatsApp is rolling out new features to simplify storage management, enable easier switching between multiple WhatsApp accounts, and enhance backups and chat transfers across devices, alongside improvements to media handling and privacy options.
Instagram will stop offering end-to-end encryption for direct messages on May 8, 2026, allowing Meta to view message contents when encryption is not enabled. Meta cites low uptake of encrypted DMs and ongoing safety concerns from law enforcement and child-safety groups; users seeking encrypted chats can switch to WhatsApp. Australia has already seen the feature deactivated, and analysts say the move reflects a broader split between social media and messaging, balancing safety and business considerations.
Meta will end end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages on May 8, 2026, affecting only a small subset of opt-in users in select regions. Affected users will be able to export their chats/media before encryption is removed, and those on older app versions may need to update to retrieve conversations. The move follows low adoption of E2E on Instagram and comes amid ongoing privacy vs. safety debates among regulators and advocates; WhatsApp remains Meta’s primary E2E platform, and Meta’s encryption work continues on Messenger. Meta says the removal will happen soon and has faced criticism from privacy advocates.
Politico’s review of Trump administration social media and ads shows the phrase 'mass deportations' has largely dropped since mid-February, as the White House pivots toward targeted enforcement and stronger border security messaging in response to Minneapolis backlash and polling concerns; officials insist policy hasn’t changed, while Republicans remain divided over how aggressively to push immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration’s messaging on the Iran strike has been inconsistent, alternating between major-combat-operations rhetoric and a short excursion, while stressing missile and naval destruction and denying regime change, all under the pressure of public scrutiny and without clear congressional authorization.
Axios notes that Trump’s Iran war messaging is inconsistent across interviews, briefings, and posts, with evolving timelines (weeks vs. days), fluctuating endgame signals (escalation versus talks), and mixed signals on regime change, leadership selection, and oil policy— even as the White House asserts clear goals to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat, deter terrorism, and dominate the region.
Trump officials warn that the Iran strike could become a protracted, politically risky conflict as public support wanes, messaging clashes complicate the narrative, and volatile oil markets and a shrinking window before the midterms sharpen the stakes for the White House and Republicans.
AP previews how Trump will use the State of the Union to frame and pitch his policy plans to skeptical midterm voters, outlining likely talking points, policy proposals, and the political posture he’ll strike as he navigates the next election cycle.
Meta will retire messenger.com and discontinue the Messenger desktop app, with messenger.com no longer available for messaging starting April 2026. Web messaging will move to facebook.com/messages and be integrated into Facebook rather than a standalone Messenger platform, while Messenger remains available on mobile. The move signals Meta’s broader shift toward consolidating messaging across its apps and reducing maintenance across separate tools amid regulatory and strategic considerations.
Under the EU's DMA, BirdyChat becomes the first European chat app to be interoperable with WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area. In practice, WhatsApp’s opt-in requirement and regional limitation mean many users won’t be able to chat cross‑platform, and BirdyChat currently supports only 1:1 chats with group interoperability planned for a later update.
Trump is privately frustrated that chaotic Minnesota protests are blurring the administration’s immigration crackdown messaging, and aides are plotting new ways to highlight ICE’s work while keeping the policy intact. Some officials push a tougher public enforcement case, while others argue for dialing down tensions with protesters and relying on local cooperation to prevent further chaos. Discussions have even surfaced about the Insurrection Act as a last resort, though it’s not considered likely. The White House insists immigration law will be enforced and the “worst of the worst” criminals removed, amid waning poll support.
WhatsApp offers various features to enhance user security and privacy, including Privacy Checkup, disappearing messages, two-factor authentication, app and chat lock, advanced security settings, and options to disable read receipts and media downloads, helping users protect their conversations from threats and unauthorized access.
WhatsApp is now available on the Apple Watch, allowing users to send and receive messages directly from their wearable device, enhancing convenience and communication on the go.
WhatsApp has launched a new app for Apple Watch, allowing users to read and send messages, receive call notifications, record voice messages, and view media directly from their wrist, with support for Series 4 and later running watchOS 10.
WhatsApp is testing a new Apple Watch companion app that offers core messaging features like chat browsing and quick replies, relying on the iPhone for connectivity, alongside the rollout of passkey-encrypted backups for enhanced security.