WhatsApp has introduced two new safety features in India – flash calls and message level reporting.
The new flash call feature offers users the option to verify their phone number through an automated call, as opposed to an SMS message while setting up WhatsApp on a new phone or re-installing it on a handset. This feature is currently available for Android users only.
This path allows WhatsApp to call the phone and verify automatically, eliminating the need for any other SMS verification action. WhatsApp claims that this is a much safer option given that it takes place all from within the app.
As for message level reporting, WhatsApp users can now report accounts to WhatsApp by flagging a specific message. This can be done by simply long pressing a particular message to either report or block a user.