WhatsApp testing a feature to let you report specific messages

Facebook-owned instant messaging app is testing a new feature to allow users to report a single message instead of full chat on the platform. At present, WhatsApp only allows users to report individuals and businesses on the basis of complete chats. The new feature is being tested with beta testers on Android and iOS devices. This comes as an attempt to curb spam and abusive messages on the instant messaging app – something that has posed a big problem for the platform.

In a post, the feature was discovered by WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo in WhatsApp for iOS beta versions 2.21.190.12 and 2.21.190.11. It is said that user reports will allow the app to forward only the reported messages to WhatsApp and notify the sender about it. The report suggests that this reporting process will be different from the current one, where the recent five messages are forwarded to WhatsApp when a user reports a business on the basis of entire chat.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp’s beta version users can see a new “Report” option when they press and hold a particular message. WABetaInfo has also detected the individual message reporting feature on recent WhatsApp for Android beta releases.

On Android, the feature was found in WhatsApp beta version 2.21.20.1 for many beta testers. Users will be able to report a single message by long pressing on the message and clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the screen, and then selecting “Report”.

It is unknown as to when this feature will be rolled out to the general public. As per the WABetaInfo report, the feature is “rolling out” for both Android and iPhone users. The report shows that WhatsApp is currently rolling out the feature, but if it is not visible to the users, they have to wait for the next update.