WhatsApp is developing a spoiler formatting tool that will allow users to hide text within messages, with initial code references appearing in the latest TestFlight beta build, according to WABetaInfo. The feature, currently unavailable to beta testers, is designed to mask selected text with a grey bar that recipients must tap to reveal.
The spoiler option will be integrated alongside existing text formatting features such as bold, italic, and strikethrough. WABetaInfo too reports that WhatsApp is preparing a manual shortcut for the feature, utilizing double pipes – typing “||text||” will automatically format the enclosed words as a spoiler, a convention familiar to users of platforms like Discord, and Reddit.
Currently, the functionality appears limited to text-based messages, with no indication of immediate plans to extend it to media formats like photos, videos, or voice notes. WABetaInfo emphasizes that the feature remains under development and its capabilities are subject to change before a public release.
The development of the spoiler feature is occurring in parallel with WhatsApp’s recent introduction of a family group history option. This feature allows new members added to family groups to view past messages by default, aiming to streamline onboarding and facilitate group coordination, according to the company.
While WhatsApp has not announced a specific release timeline for the spoiler formatting tool, its presence in both the iOS TestFlight beta and Android beta development suggests a potential for broader rollout in the future. Users interested in participating in beta testing for WhatsApp on iOS can find links to the TestFlight program through WABetaInfo’s dedicated page, which lists public beta programs for various applications. Apple’s TestFlight platform is used by developers to distribute and test beta versions of apps before their official release, requiring users to have a compatible device running a supported operating system – currently iOS 16 or later for WhatsApp.
The introduction of spoiler formatting could be particularly useful in group conversations surrounding events prone to spoilers, such as film and television series, sporting events, or sensitive topics, allowing users to share information without immediately revealing key details.
