WhatsApp is introducing a new feature aimed at younger users, and it is clearly designed with one goal in mind: giving pre-teens a more controlled way to communicate while allowing parents to stay involved in how the account is used. The new system, called parent-managed accounts, creates a version of WhatsApp that focuses on the basics of messaging and calling, while removing several features that may be less suitable for younger children.

For most of us, WhatsApp is the default communication tool. Family chats, work updates, late-night memes, everything flows through the little green app. But a recent discovery by security researchers has revealed a privacy issue big enough to make even the most loyal WhatsApp user pause. According to a new study, a flaw in the app's design exposed the phone numbers of roughly 3.5 billion people — essentially anyone with WhatsApp installed.

WhatsApp Web is preparing to roll out voice and video calling capabilities, according to a report by WABetaInfo. New call buttons spotted in the web client hint that these features will soon be available across all versions of WhatsApp. 

You'd think discussions about military operations wouldn't be happening over smartphone messaging apps. Yet, in what's now possibly the most infamous group chat ever, top U.S. officials—including the Vice President and Secretaries of Defense and State—were reportedly using Signal to discuss bombing plans in Yemen. The kicker? A journalist was accidentally added to the chat.

Ever get lost in a whirlwind of messages in a busy WhatsApp group? You're not alone—and it looks like WhatsApp is finally doing something about it.

The messaging app is currently working on threaded message replies, a feature that's been high on many users' wishlists. While it's still in development, once it's ready, it's expected to roll out across one-on-one chats, group chats, communities, and even channels.