The pace of complaints from users of the "WhatsApp" app around the world has escalated regarding it consuming internet data from their phones, sometimes costing them high bills, which prompted the app management to work on finding a way to stop this drain for fear that some users might abandon the app.

A report published by the British "Daily Mirror" newspaper stated that WhatsApp users are set to receive a new optional feature that can significantly improve their messaging experience and help save their data packages.
The famous encrypted messaging app is introducing a new experimental feature that allows users to send high-definition photos and videos to their contacts.
The update offers a high definition "HD" option for photos and videos, meaning you will not lose any quality when sharing all these crucial clips in group chats. However, there is one issue: high-definition content consumes significantly more data than standard files, which means if you leave this option enabled, it can quickly deplete your monthly data balance, forcing you to purchase more or surprise you with high phone bills.
According to the "Daily Mirror" report, for example, a standard quality photo that consumes about 2.2 megabytes of data will nearly double its internet consumption to about 5 megabytes when shared in high "HD" quality, meaning high-quality files can double internet consumption in the best case.
Videos can also consume more internet data, and those with limited data packages may suddenly need additional internet access each month, which is usually not cheap. Since many WhatsApp users send hundreds or even thousands of files to each other, this can result in continuous increased internet consumption, as well as quickly consuming the available storage space on the phone.
The "Daily Mirror" says that Meta, the company owning WhatsApp, quickly realized this dilemma faced by many users and took action accordingly. Therefore, "standard quality" is always the default option in the app for any video sent unless the user chooses the high-quality option. Furthermore, high-definition videos and photos received by users will be labeled accordingly.
WhatsApp stores the files you receive on your device by default, so it is advisable to check your settings to ensure that the high-quality option is turned off in order to save some storage space on the device, as well as reduce internet usage when receiving or re-sending files. The new feature is being tested as part of the "WhatsApp beta" program, according to the "Daily Mirror," meaning it will not be available to all users yet. However, it is expected to become available to all users since the testing is currently underway on both Android and iPhone operating systems, indicating the company's intention to provide it to all users soon.