WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging app, is replacing its green verification badge with a blue checkmark for verified channels and companies, aligning aesthetically with other Meta applications where the verification mark is already blue, such as Instagram and Facebook.
Users who are part of the WhatsApp beta testing program can update their versions to 2.24.1.18 for Android to see the changes, as the update is currently only available to beta users. When business users on WhatsApp add verified badges to their channels, their channel name and profile picture will be updated to match the verified business details, which can be further edited through their business profile.
However, to obtain a verified business badge on their channel, WhatsApp for Business users must subscribe to Meta Verified. Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed that the ability to subscribe to Meta Verified on WhatsApp will be available in the future, providing them with a verification badge for their profile and other benefits. It’s important to note that the Meta Verified subscription will be optional and exclusively accessible to businesses. To get Meta Verified, the channel information must be consistent with business details to prevent misuse of the verification system and impersonation, as reported by Phone Arena.
In 2023, WhatsApp rolled out a series of innovative features. These include the introduction of email address verification to enhance account security, the ability for users to create alternate profiles with varying names and pictures for different contact groups, and a new feature for searching chats by date on WhatsApp Web. Additionally, users can now organize events within group chats, complete with details like date and time. The anticipated launch of a dedicated WhatsApp app for iPad users and the testing of animated avatars for video calls, which mimic user expressions and movements in real-time, further enhance the app’s capabilities.