WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to share photos and videos previously posted on Instagram and Facebook directly within the app. This functionality allows these media to be sent in private conversations as well as in groups, and also enables their publication in Status, eliminating the need to switch between applications or download the files.
Currently, this feature is being made available progressively to participants in the tests on the latest beta versions of WhatsApp, for both Android and iOS systems. For this integration to work, it is essential that WhatsApp is linked to the Meta Accounts Center. There is currently no official date scheduled for this novelty to reach the stable version of the application.
The posts from these social networks have been integrated into the WhatsApp media selector. When the user opens the gallery intending to attach an image or video and accesses the list view, they will find the options for Instagram and Facebook listed among the available alternatives.
A dropdown menu positioned at the top of the interface allows the user to switch between the different social networks that have been linked. Content published by the user themselves appears organized in a grid, similar to that used to display files saved on the mobile device.
The closeness between the various applications belonging to Meta has been occurring gradually. Last year, WhatsApp had already started integrating with the Accounts Center to enable the automatic sharing of Status updates on Facebook and Instagram Stories.
Access to this tool for testers strictly depends on WhatsApp's connection to the Accounts Center, an environment created by Meta with the purpose of unifying profile management across the company's social platforms. The process for adding WhatsApp follows specific steps.
According to WABetaInfo, communication between the services is also subject to certain limits. Despite this, using this integration remains an optional choice; those who choose not to connect the services will simply not have the Instagram and Facebook shortcuts in the media selector and can continue using WhatsApp without establishing the link between the accounts.