I have been sharing a link to my private what's app channel for months within a link or button in many chat.  Recently, however, when someone clicks my WhatsApp link, the user is not taken to the what's app channel. They are prompted to download what'sapp (even if it's already on their phone.).  It never pulls the user to the channel.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

The only workaround I can find is telling the user to “open the WhatsApp link in external browser.”  Most users wont go through the trouble.

Any other ideas?