WhatsApp has announced four new features aimed at improving communication and making it easier for users to manage conversations across multiple group chats.
The Meta-owned messaging platform said the updates would be rolled out to users worldwide over the coming weeks.
The changes include new options for pinned messages, sharing chat history with new members, posting group-specific status updates and finding unread messages.
1. Pinned messages with no expiry
WhatsApp is introducing a “No Expiry” option for pinned messages in group chats.
Currently, pinned messages can remain at the top of a conversation for up to 30 days. The new option will allow users to keep important messages pinned indefinitely.
2. Sharing group message history
A feature called Group Message History Sharing is designed to help new members catch up on existing conversations.
It will allow group members to share recent chat history with someone who has just joined.
The feature will be optional, and WhatsApp says shared messages will remain protected by end-to-end encryption.
3. Group Status updates
The third feature will allow members to share photos and updates as status posts within a specific group.
Other members of that group will be able to view and react to the posts.
Unlike regular WhatsApp Status updates, these posts will only be visible to members of the relevant group and will disappear automatically after 24 hours.
4. Unread Messages Filter
WhatsApp is also introducing an Unread Messages Filter to help users keep track of conversations.
The feature will make it easier to find unread messages in which users have been mentioned or directly replied to, without having to scroll through the entire chat.
It could be particularly useful for people who belong to several groups, including those they have muted or do not check regularly.
WhatsApp said the four features would be rolled out globally over the coming weeks, although availability may vary during the rollout.
