WhatsApp Just Added Five New Group Chat Features, Including '@All'
WhatsApp has announced a rollout of five new features specifically designed for group chats, improving polls and notification controls.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Introduced the '@all' function to alert every group member instantly, bypassing muted chats.
- Enhanced group polls with three new features, including post-editing and hiding voter names.
- Added the ability to spin off new group chats directly from existing ones.
- Announced the official feature updates on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, WhatsApp announced a handful of new features and changes for its app, focusing specifically on group chats. In total, WhatsApp rolled out five new updates designed to make managing and communicating within groups much easier.
If you have ever used platforms featuring an '@all' function, you know how disruptive it can be. By typing '@all' in your message, you can force everyone in the group chat to receive a notification, which is especially useful for time-sensitive messages without having to tag members one by one.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Naturally, the '@all' feature can be overused and abused since it breaks through muted group chats. Fortunately, notification settings allow you to choose to mute even '@all' alerts if preferred, though you will miss those future alerts. Furthermore, WhatsApp notes that in groups of more than 32 people, the '@all' feature is strictly limited to admins.
Restricting the '@all' feature to admins in larger groups is a practical safeguard against notification spam, preventing massive chat rooms from descending into chaos due to uncontrolled alerts.
Polls on WhatsApp are also getting significant upgrades. WhatsApp is making polls even more useful by introducing three specific changes:
- Setting an end time for polls to close by a strict deadline.
- Hiding responders' names for sensitive polls so people can vote more freely.
- Editing poll questions within 15 minutes of posting in case of mistakes.
Finally, when you need to create a smaller group chat featuring members of an existing group, you no longer need to build it from scratch. You can now make new group chats directly from your current groups, streamlining logistics and planning, or perhaps impromptu side conversations.
Source: Lifehacker
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