This week, WhatsApp unveiled a visual refresh of its interface, shared its concept for flexible navigation, made channel statistics public, announced paid subscriptions for its built-in artificial intelligence, and officially launched its long-awaited parental controls.
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New Message Design with Fully Rounded Bubbles
WhatsApp is introducing a feature that makes pop-up messages softer in appearance, giving chats a more modern look.
How it will work
Text messages now have a larger radius, taking on a soft, pill-shaped form. Multimedia content (photos, videos) is no longer framed by a separate border—the file itself becomes a bubble. Exception: in groups, received media retains a small banner with the sender’s name and a forwarding mark. The same applies to photo and video captions.
Why it’s needed
This makes the interface visually more modern and easier to read. Softer shapes make reading more comfortable, and multimedia fits seamlessly into the feed.
Status
This feature is available to some beta testers on Android. It is gradually being rolled out to more users.
Concept – Customizable Tab Bar
Researchers at WhatsApp beta info have developed a concept for WhatsApp – a tab management feature.
How it will work
Users will be able to select up to five tabs to display in the bottom navigation. Three of them – Chats, Updates, and Calls – will remain mandatory. The remaining two can be assigned from available options: Communities, Built-in AI, Settings, and Profile. These options will be managed through a separate configuration screen.
Why it’s needed
This is to adapt the interface to personal preferences. Some people want quick access to AI, while others prefer to remove communities to reduce clutter.
Status
This is currently a concept. The feature is not yet being developed, but it reflects user requests. We will keep an eye on the news.
Public forwarding statistics for channels
WhatsApp is implementing a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded.
How it will work
A forward count is now displayed next to the reactions under any channel update. Any user can see how many times a post has been forwarded. Previously, this information was only available to administrators.
Why it’s needed
This helps assess the distribution of content: even if reactions are low, a high number of forwards indicates real reach. Users can choose to read the most popular updates.
Status
Available to some beta testers on Android. The feature will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Paid subscriptions for built-in AI
WhatsApp is working on more advanced pricing plans for built-in artificial intelligence.
How it will work
Free access to built-in artificial intelligence will remain available to everyone. However, additional paid plans will be available, offering higher limits, priority service, access to new models, and expanded capabilities. Details are still being finalized.
Why it’s needed
For users who actively use AI and require advanced features or faster responses. Monetization will enable the platform to grow.
Status
This feature is in development and expected in future updates.
Official launch of secondary accounts
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that allows parents to monitor certain activity on their child’s account.
How it will work
A parent can create a secondary account for their child, linking it to their own account using secure setup. Messages from unknown contacts are sent to a “Requests” folder, which the parent can view and approve. Parents receive notifications about new contacts and setting changes, but cannot see the content of the messages (end-to-end encryption remains). Children have limited channels and statuses, but basic functions are available: chats, calls, and media.
Why it’s needed
To ensure children’s safety on WhatsApp without compromising their privacy. Parents control their surroundings without interfering with their conversations.
Status
The feature was officially announced on the WhatsApp blog and is gradually rolling out to iOS and Android. It’s currently available to a limited number of users.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is updating its visual style, making channel analytics public, preparing for AI monetization, and launching an important family safety tool. The concept of customizable tabs shows where the interface may be heading.
At GREEN-API, we’re keeping an eye on the news and will keep you informed about all the significant updates. We’re also constantly working on introducing new features to our service to make your experience more convenient. Follow our blog to stay informed about new and useful features in WhatsApp!