#Rebranding: WhatsApp gets 'WhatsApp from Facebook' tag
What's the story
We recently heard of reports that Facebook is renaming WhatsApp and Instagram by attaching its own name to these popular services. Just last week, the company started adding 'Instagram from Facebook' tag on Instagram. And now, the change is coming to WhatsApp. In the latest beta update, 'WhatsApp from Facebook' tag has been added to the popular messaging app. Here's all about it.
Information
New tag is visible under Settings menu on WhatsApp
If you are on the latest beta version of WhatsApp, chances are you can spot the new tag. Simply head to Settings and look for "WhatsApp from Facebook" tag at the bottom of the screen. Notably, the app name still remains as WhatsApp.
Official word
What Facebook says about the rebranding
The Information, which first reported on the development of Facebook adding its name to WhatsApp and Instagram, said that the Mark Zuckerberg-led company was looking to rebrand its key products amid anti-trust concerns in several parts of the world. However, a Facebook spokesperson later said that the company wants "to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook."
Impact
But, is this the right way to go?
Tying its own name with Instagram/WhatsApp would ensure transparency as many users don't even know that these are Facebook products. But, the thing is, both Instagram and WhatsApp have grown outside the shadow of Facebook, which has been marred by breaches, leaks, investigations. Now, with Facebook's moniker included, users may feel the same distrust for the two services they feel for the social network.
New feature
Meanwhile, WhatsApp for Android is getting fingerprint unlocking
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is bringing biometric authentication feature on its Android beta app. The feature, which is already present on iOS, locks the app after a pre-defined period of time and requires the user to authenticate with the registered fingerprint to open it again. It is designed to block unauthorized users from accessing the app and protect your personal chats.
Working
How to use the feature
If you're running the latest Android beta of WhatsApp, head over to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint Lock to enable the lock. The app will verify your fingerprint and provide three timing options - Immediately, After 1 minute, and After 30 minutes - to choose how frequently you want the lock to come into effect.