Whatsapp users worldwide are at risk of being left red-faced, if a new update goes ahead.
The Facebook-owned app is testing a feature for Android users that allows them to switch on 'locked' recording by tapping the microphone and holding it for a half a second.
But while it's intended to be useful, the change could make it easier for people to accidentally record audio and send it to their friends, without ever realising.
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Whatsapp users worldwide are at risk of being left red-faced, if a new update goes ahead. The Facebook-owned app is testing a feature for Android users that allows them to switch on 'locked' recording by tapping the microphone and holding it for a half a second
In the current version of the app on Android devices, if a user's finger or thumb slips off the microphone icon at any point, the entire message is lost.
In a bid to get rid of this glitch, the messaging app is rolling out 'audio lock' on its Android beta testing platform.
Expected to be released to the masses in the near future, the feature will only require the mic icon to be held for 0.5 seconds.
Once this has been done, users can swipe up to lock the recording.
After it is activated and locked, the app will continue to record until either the cancel or send buttons are pressed.
Expected to be released to the masses in an upcoming update, the feature will only require users to hold the mic icon for 0.5 seconds
Once users have held and triggered the record feature they will be able to swipe up and 'lock' the recording which will capture audio until sent or cancelled
However, unintentional 'butt-dials' could send awkward and embarrassing voice notes to unwanted contacts.
WABetaInfo reported that in a future update, users will be able to listen back to their recording once it has been captured.
This alteration to the sending of messages comes after a string of updates that have tweaked the way WhatsApp is used by its customers
For example, the deleting messages feature has been changed twice in the last month.
The time-frame for deleting messages was expanded last month from a mere 420 seconds (seven minutes) to 4,096 seconds (68 minutes and 16 seconds).
HOW CAN WHATSAPP USERS CREATE AND SEND VOICE NOTES?
The Facebook-owned messaging app is one of the most popular and widely used applications on both Apple and Android smartphones.
Users can communicate via phone call, text, GIFs, Bitmojis, video and even voice recordings.
Historically, the messaging platform has made recording and sending audio clips quite cumbersome, with the user needing to keep their finger pressed on the microphone icon at all times.
The latest update aims to remove that inconvenience.
After pressing and holding the icon for only 0.5 seconds, senders can then swipe up to 'lock' the recording.
Once this has happened, simply pressing the send arrow in the bottom right hand corner will ping the recording to the desired contact or group.
The Facebook-owned messaging app is one of the most popular and widely used applications on both Apple and Android smartphones. After pressing and holding the icon for only 0.5 seconds, senders can then swipe up to 'lock' the recording
WhatsApp's FAQ page explains how sent messages can be deleted.
It says: 'Deleting messages for everyone allows you to delete specific messages you have sent to either a group or an individual chat.
'This is particularly useful if you sent a message to the wrong chat or if the message you sent contains a mistake.'
This expansion was targeted by hackers however, who expanded this window illegally.
Hackers were able to modify the software, which allowed them to delete messages dating back as long ago as three years.
Now the Facebook-owned firm behind the app has introduced the ability to block such requests, in a bid to counter these illegal deletions.
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