WhatsApp fans are getting a major boost to their chats, and it’s good news for those with endless group conversations on their phones. The Meta-owned service has confirmed four changes to its platform which are being introduced to make those groups a little easier to manage.
“A busy group chat means plans are being made, news is being shared and the jokes are in full swing. But it can also mean a lot of messages to catch up on when you’ve been busy,” WhatsApp said.
“Today we’re introducing four updates that make it easier to pick up where you left off.”
So what’s new, and when will you get the boost?
Firstly, users can now pin messages longer, with the option to keep important chats pinned indefinitely rather than choosing a time limit up front.
There’s also more flexibility in bringing new members up to speed in group chats. Earlier this year, WhatsApp introduced the ability to share recent message history with people when they join a group. Now, it’s also possible to send recent messages to someone who has just joined by tapping their name in the chat. This means they can get up to speed with what’s been going on. As with all personal conversations, WhatsApp says these messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption.
Another new addition is Group Status, which makes it easier to share updates with specific groups of people. This means users can post something for their running club, for example, without sharing it with family and friends. Everyone in the group can view, react to and add their own status updates, which disappear after 24 hours, just like regular WhatsApp Status posts.
Finally, WhatsApp is introducing a new filter for mentions and replies. This will show unread group conversations where users have been directly mentioned or received a reply, including messages using @all. It should make it much easier to catch up on the conversations that matter most without having to scroll through every group chat.
WhatsApp says these features are rolling out globally and should arrive on iPhone and Android devices in the coming weeks.
The app should update automatically once the changes become available.
