WhatsApp Introduces Message Editing within a 15-Minute Window

WhatsApp Introduces Long-Awaited Feature: Message Editing with a 15-Minute Window

In a highly anticipated announcement, WhatsApp has finally unveiled the ability to edit messages, granting users greater control over their conversations. Mark Zuckerberg, in a Facebook post, shared the exciting news that messages can now be modified within 15 minutes of being sent. To make edits, simply press and hold the desired message, then select the edit option to make alterations. Any edited message will be labeled with an “edited” tag alongside the timestamp, indicating the change. Notably, WhatsApp does not retain a history of corrections, ensuring that previous versions of edited messages remain hidden from other users.

“We’re thrilled to offer you enhanced chat control, allowing you to rectify spelling errors or provide additional context to your messages. Within 15 minutes of sending a message, simply tap and hold the message, then choose ‘Edit’ from the menu,” explained the company in a blog post, emphasizing the newfound power at users’ fingertips.

In a major breakthrough, WhatsApp has introduced a highly anticipated feature that allows users to edit messages, eliminating the need for deleting or sending separate corrections. Previously, users were faced with the dilemma of either completely removing a message or resorting to additional messages for rectification. Notably, WhatsApp extended the time limit for message deletion from 48 hours to 60 hours last year, providing users with more flexibility.

Competing platforms like Telegram and Signal have long offered message editing capabilities, while Apple’s iOS 16 update introduced editing and unsending options for iMessage. Even Twitter jumped on board, introducing an edit button exclusively for paid users last year. Although WhatsApp’s 15-minute editing window may not be as expansive as Telegram’s 48-hour timeframe, it is still a valuable addition.

Personally, I’ve encountered my fair share of typos in messages, and this editing feature will enable me to swiftly correct mistakes without the need for additional messages. Sending corrections often confuses recipients and generates unnecessary notifications. Deleting a message, on the other hand, doesn’t completely erase it from the conversation; instead, it is replaced by a faded message indicating, “This message was deleted.”

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According to Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, the editing feature is currently being rolled out to users and will be accessible to everyone in the coming weeks, marking an exciting milestone in the evolution of messaging platforms.