WhatsApp is introducing a feature called "third-party chats," which will also be available on Facebook's Messenger app, initially exclusive to users in the European Union. This change is a response to the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) aimed at reducing monopolistic practices among tech companies. The feature allows users to manage messages across different platforms more easily, and users can choose to consolidate chats into a single inbox or maintain separate folders. Meta aims to enhance the messaging experience with features like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts, with plans for group creation and voice/video calling capabilities by 2027. Security will be prioritized, requiring third-party services to use the same encryption protocols as WhatsApp and Messenger.