WhatsApp to Verify Instagram Links with Meta Accounts to Reduce Impersonation and Scams

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a feature to verify Instagram links in user profiles via Meta's Accounts Center, adding authenticity badges to reduce impersonation and scams. Users can link their WhatsApp account to the Accounts Center to verify their Instagram profile links, which will appear with a trust badge in the chat info screen. The feature is currently being tested and has not been rolled out widely.

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature to verify Instagram links in user profiles via Meta's Accounts Center. This feature aims to reduce impersonation and scams by adding authenticity badges to verified links. The feature is currently being tested and has not been widely rolled out yet.

The new feature will allow users to link their WhatsApp accounts to Meta's Accounts Center to verify their Instagram profile links. Once verified, the linked Instagram account will display a trust badge in the chat info screen, indicating that the account genuinely belongs to the user. Users who choose not to link their accounts can still share their Instagram links, but these will appear without the trust badge.

The feature is similar to what is already available on Discord, which allows users to connect and verify multiple platforms. Meta could potentially expand this feature beyond Instagram to further reduce the risk of impersonation.

WhatsApp has been actively working on various new features, including threaded replies, notification reminders for chats and missed calls, and importing profile photos from Facebook or Instagram. Most of these features are currently in Beta and are expected to roll out in the next few months. Additionally, WhatsApp is developing a feature that allows users to message people who are not on WhatsApp, making communication more convenient.

This development underscores WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to enhance user safety and trust. The platform has also recently rolled out a Safety Overview feature to protect users from being added to unfamiliar or suspicious groups. The Safety Overview feature provides details about group chats created by unknown contacts, including the group name, creator, and member list.

Meta's Accounts Center serves as a central dashboard for managing connected profiles across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Users who choose to link their WhatsApp accounts to the Accounts Center can enjoy the benefits of verified links, while those who do not link their accounts can still share their Instagram links without the trust badge.

References:
[1] https://gadgets.beebom.com/news/whatsapp-testing-verified-instagram-profile-links-addition
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/whatsapp-ios-update-instagram-profile-link-verification-meta-accounts-center-125081101177_1.html