WhatsApp is planning to allow screen sharing during video calls. Screen-sharing functionality will now be added to the Meta-owned WhatsApp beta version 2.23.11.19.
According to WABetaInfo, during a video conference, pressing the new screen-sharing icon in the call control menu will enable the feature.
Clicking on the screen-sharing icon brings up a pop-up warning that states, “WhatsApp will have access to all of the information that is visible on your screen or played from your device while recording or casting.” It said, “This includes data like passwords, payment information, photos, messages, and audio that you play.”
As WhatsApp is planning to allow screen sharing during video calls, by enabling tasks such as making a presentation during business meetings, WhatsApp will be able to compete with programmes such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
However, given that screen-sharing is rarely used on smartphones, adding it to WhatsApp Desktop could be more beneficial.
This feature is very similar to Google Meet’s Live Sharing feature, which debuted a couple of years ago. Apple also has a similar feature called SharePlay on devices running iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. WhatsApp’s new screen-sharing feature can be really helpful to a lot of users, especially the elderly or children who might need help in getting things done using their phones.
WhatsApp is an internationally available freeware, cross-platform, centralized instant messaging (IM), and voice-over-IP (VoIP) service owned by US tech conglomerate Meta.
It allows users to send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content. WhatsApp’s client application runs on mobile devices and can be accessed from computers.
The service requires a cellular mobile telephone number to sign up. In January 2018, WhatsApp released a standalone business app called WhatsApp Business which can communicate with the standard WhatsApp client.
Also read: WhatsApp introduces message editing feature
