With the WhatsApp messenger service, messages can be edited after they have been sent in order to correct typos – albeit with a time limit.
Mountain View/Kassel – “The child is finally in the office!” In times of auto-correction, news like this no longer surprises anyone. Because almost every smartphone user knows what is meant here. The little angel is of course slumbering blissfully in his bed and didn’t set off with his briefcase.
Mistyping a WhatsApp message is often funny, but mostly just confusing. For this reason, WhatsApp is now coming up with an innovation, as the company announced on May 22, 2023 on its website explained. In the event that you have made a mistake while writing, the messenger service now offers a new function: the subsequent editing of messages.
New WhatsApp feature: edit messages after sending
There are always innovations at WhatsApp, recently there were also extensive changes that affected data protection. This is particularly important because the messenger service is repeatedly used by criminals for fraudulent activities. Many consumers have asked for the edit function. Nevertheless, it took a long time before WhatsApp finally implemented it.
| Surname: | whatsapp inc |
| Founding year: | 2009 (since 2014 part of the Facebook group Meta) |
| Function: | instant messaging service |
| Headquarters: | Mountain View, California (USA) |
| Number of users worldwide: | > 2 billion in 180 countries (according to own data) |
Edit function on WhatsApp – why it took so long
As early as December 2016, the subsidiary of the Facebook parent company Meta announced that it wanted to enable such a function as the online portal giga.de writes. The company says nothing about the reasons for the long period in between. Concerns may also have played a role if, in the future, everyone can subsequently change their messages as they wish.
Time limit: WhatsApp messages can only be edited for 15 minutes
In order to prevent misunderstandings and to stop the confusion, WhatsApp has installed a time block when editing: Subsequent editing is only possible up to 15 minutes after sending. So there are limits to having additional control over your own messages. The intention behind this is probably that the function is less easily misused and the recipient cannot twist the proverbial word in his mouth.
Edit WhatsApp messages afterwards: How it works
Other messenger services like Telegram have had an editing function for a long time. With WhatsApp you get into the corresponding mode by tapping and holding on a sent message. Then select “Edit” from the menu that appears and enter the corrected text. The message will then show as “edited”.
WhatsApp states on its website that the correction feature will be introduced worldwide. The conversion has already started. The function should then be available to all users in the coming weeks.