Newsletter: WhatsApp tests a new private newsletter feature: What is it

Meta-owned instant messaging service WhatsApp keeps on testing and adding new features to offer a seamless experience. According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, With the latest beta version (2.23.5.3), the messaging service is testing a private newsletter tool which is expected to arrive for end users in the coming days. The report claims that the new feature’s name “seems a codename”.
WhatsApp newsletter feature: What is it
As per the report, the Newsletter feature will be a tool for broadcasting information. This feature looks like a new way to receive useful updates from people and groups. It includes local officials, sports teams or other organisations. With the Newsletter feature, users will be able to select the contacts who they want to hear from. Users can also access the feature to follow their preferred broadcasters inside WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is not expected to protect Newsletters with end-to-end encryption as it will be used to reach a large number of people. However, the phone number of the users who have created and subscribed to a newsletter is likely to be masked and hidden. This will prevent the user’s identity from being disclosed.
Newsletters are expected to be available in a separate (optional) section. The feature is likely to appear in the Status tab and not in the private chats section. This feature will not affect the end-to-end encryption of private messaging, the report adds. Messages and calls will also remain end-to-end encrypted.

This feature may not act as a public social network and may work as a personal space. The report claims that this new feature currently does not support any ads Neither does it have a sign of algorithmic recommendations, or social graphs pushing content to users.
The feature is expected to show content chronologically and may not support any magic priority. Furthermore, this feature will also support handles which will help users to find and join Newsletters by searching for them using a username right within WhatsApp.
This feature will even show users who they follow, regardless of whether they’re in their contacts list or not. Moreover, the Newsletter is also marked as a private tool as people who will create and join a Newsletter are in a private space as their phone numbers and personal information are always hidden by default.