New Delhi, Nov. 17 -- WhatsApp is testing a"third party chats" feature in Europe that would let users message people on other apps without leaving WhatsApp. The move is aimed at meeting the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires dominant platforms to open up and enable interoperability. Below, we unpack how the feature works, what it supports, the user controls, and the practical trade-offs for privacy and everyday use.

Users who get the beta will find the option under Settings > Account > Third-party chats. The feature is opt-in: you won't start receiving cross-platform messages unless you enable it.

Once turned on, users can choose how they want those messages surfaced-either integrated into the main chat list or s...