LOS ANGELES: Meta is going to give users the ability to link their WhatsApp account with Facebook and Instagram, the social media giant has said.
The tech giant is launching the ability for users to add WhatsApp to its Meta Accounts Centre, the firm’s central hub from which users can manage and link their various Meta app profiles, including for its other social media apps and its Quest virtual reality headsets.
Meta said adding WhatsApp to Accounts Centre would be optional and off by default, and that personal WhatsApp messages and calls would remain end-to-end encrypted.
Opting to use the link-up tool would make it easier for users to share a WhatsApp Status with Facebook and Instagram Stories, Meta said, and would also enable users to more easily log back into their WhatsApp account when needed.
The update was expected to be rolled out gradually to users globally in the weeks and months to come.
“Our approach for WhatsApp is simple: your account is separate from other apps and no-one but you can change that,” Meta said in a blog post on the update.
“While adding your WhatsApp to Accounts Centre is completely optional and off by default, it can help those who want features to work more seamlessly across apps.
“For example, it’ll be easier to re-share updates from your WhatsApp Status to Facebook or Instagram Stories and show your friends what’s happening in your life without having to post multiple times.
“You’ll also be able to log back in to your WhatsApp account with a single sign-on, so you can get back into your accounts faster and with fewer steps.
“Whenever we introduce these new experiences, it’s our responsibility to help people understand how we protect their personal information.
“Privacy is paramount to WhatsApp and your personal messages and calls are always protected by end-to-end encryption, which means that no-one else, not even WhatsApp or Meta, can read or hear them. Adding your WhatsApp to Accounts Centre does not change that.” – PA Media/dpa
