WhatsApp for iOS has been updated to support inline Instagram and Facebook video playback, according to the messaging platform’s latest release notes.
YouTube videos have been playable for some time in WhatsApp, which also offers a Picture-in-Picture mode for continuing to watch while switching between chat threads. However, clicking on an Instagram or Facebook video link kicks users out of the app and into the respective hosting platform.
The WhatsApp changelog for version 2.18.51 indicates support for Facebook and Instagram videos has now been greenlighted by the developers, although our tests suggest the feature is still being rolled out.
The group administrator functions have also been tweaked in the latest version of the app, so that group admins can now revoke admin rights from other participants. To remove an admin, select the user in “Group Info” and select “Dismiss As Admin”.
In addition, group admins can now choose who can change a group’s subject, icon, and description. These options can also be found in Group Info under the “Group Settings” section.
At the recent Facebook F8 developers conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed WhatsApp will soon support group video calling, although he offered no timeline for the feature’s introduction. The messaging platform is also set to support stickers “soon”, including third-party ones made by developers.
Tags: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
Discuss this article in our forums
