WhatsApp Develops Anti-Spoiler Feature for Text Messages

WhatsApp appears to be addressing a longstanding user experience gap with a new spoiler-tagging feature currently in development. This functionality will allow users to mark sensitive message content—such as plot twists, surprise announcements, or confidential details—as hidden behind a visual barrier until explicitly revealed by recipients.

The feature, discovered in WhatsApp's latest TestFlight build by WABetaInfo, introduces a dedicated formatting option alongside existing text modifiers like Bold and Italic. When activated via the formatting toolbar, the spoiler function wraps selected text within double pipe symbols (||example text||) and renders it as a gray bar in the conversation view. Recipients must tap this obscured section to reveal the underlying content.

This syntax-based approach offers flexibility: Users can either manually type the double pipes around sensitive content or apply the formatting through WhatsApp's interface. The implementation mirrors spoiler conventions established on platforms like Discord and Reddit, potentially reducing onboarding friction.

Current limitations include exclusive support for text content. There's no confirmation whether spoiler tagging will extend to images, videos, or documents—a significant consideration given WhatsApp's media-heavy usage patterns. The feature remains unavailable for beta testing despite visible code references in both iOS TestFlight and Android beta builds.

Platform implications:

• iOS: Leverages native text formatting frameworks but requires careful handling of tap targets for obscured content
• Android: Must accommodate diverse screen sizes and manufacturer-specific UI modifications
• Cross-platform: Message rendering consistency across operating systems will be critical for user experience

While no official release timeline exists, parallel development on both major platforms suggests deployment within WhatsApp's standard feature rollout cadence. The spoiler system represents a nuanced solution to message context management—particularly valuable in group chats where accidental reveals can disrupt experiences. As messaging platforms increasingly adopt content-control mechanisms (like Discord's spoiler tags or Slack's content warnings), WhatsApp's implementation demonstrates evolving norms around user-controlled information disclosure.

WhatsApp Beta Features Tracker | WhatsApp Formatting Documentation