WhatsApp may inevitably have an AI chatbot on the way, but one feature we're most interested in just appeared in the beta version of its Android app: a newsletter tool.
The incoming feature, currently called Newsletters, was spotted by WABetaInfo (opens in a new tab) in the latest Android beta of WhatsApp (version 2.23.5.8, to be precise) and suggests that the messaging app is on point. Skip to the popular news. format that is traditionally experienced in our inbox.
As early previews show (pictured above), the Newsletter feature will be highlighted in the WhatsApp Status tab. Here you will be able to "stay up to date on the topics that interest you" and follow new newsletters by tapping the plus icon and entering a username.
So how exactly will newsletters fit in with WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption and privacy features? They will effectively stay out of the latter, according to WABetaInfo: your personal messages will still have the usual level of security, but the newsletters will hide or hide the phone numbers of anyone who creates or subscribes to one.
As the first few screenshots show, newsletters will simply live in a separate (and optional) section of your Status tab. The ones you subscribe to will appear to be displayed in chronological order, with no ads or algorithmic interference (at least to begin with).
What's not yet clear is exactly what kind of newsletters will appear on WhatsApp, and who expects to create them. Due to the popularity of WhatsApp groups, it seems likely that they are a useful way to get updates from local organisations, sports groups or official sources like councils.
But unlike the WhatsApp Communities feature, which arrived in November 2022 and was capped at 5000 members, the Newsletter tool doesn't appear to have restrictions on the total number of subscribers. This means that brands and creators of Substack could also use it as an additional means of reaching out to fans who want regular updates on particular topics.
This is all still speculation until we see a more developed version of the feature, but given the popularity of traditional email newsletters, this is one we want to keep an eye on. And that would only strengthen WhatsApp's position as one of the best encrypted messaging apps for Android.
Analysis: WhatsApp becomes Discord
WhatsApp is clearly looking to capitalize on its ubiquity with features that broaden its appeal beyond messaging, and the newsletters are an intriguing move that goes well beyond its recent Communities feature.
As we already explained, WhatsApp communities work similarly to public servers on Discord and Slack, in that they allow people to have conversations within larger communities (in other words, groups of groups), including clubs, organizations, and schools. local.
But newsletters seem to work quite differently and could turn WhatsApp into a publishing platform. The anonymity of the feature (no subscriber or creator phone numbers are shared) means it's really a streaming medium, without the messaging or interaction that is WhatsApp's current hallmark.
It looks like the newsletters will also be a completely private tool, with WABetaInfo stating that no one will be able to see who you follow. Your subscription options will also not depend on who is on your contact list, just like traditional email newsletters.
While some marketers have used Discord's servers to build thriving communities, some might see WhatsApp's incoming newsletters as a solid alternative, especially since the app has over two billion monthly active users (opens in a new eyelash). There is currently no timeline for the release of the feature, but we hope to see it soon in a future version of the app.