WhatsApp Rolls Out Group Chat Improvements

WhatsApp has made a number of improvements to the way group chats work. Most of the improvements are on the admin side of things, but all of them are designed to help people use WhatsApp group chats more effectively. Or at least that’s the hope.

With 1.5 billion users, WhatsApp is popular way of communicating with family and friends (unless you use Windows Phone or Blackberry).

The Growing Demand for Groups

In a blog post detailing the changes, WhatsApp states that groups have always been an important part of WhatsApp, whether helping “family members connecting across the globe or childhood friends staying in touch over the years”.

However, realizing just how important groups are these days, WhatsApp suggests that “new parents looking for support, students organising study sessions, and even city leaders coordinating relief efforts after natural disasters” now use them.

WhatsApp Group Chat Changes

To that end, WhatsApp has made the following changes to groups:

Groups now come with a description detailing the “purpose, guidelines, or topics for the group”. And when a new person joins they will see this description at the top of the chat.

whatsapp group chat improvements

Improved controls means admins can now “restrict who can change the group’s subject, icon, and description”. However, “group creators can no longer be removed from the group they started”.

A new catch-up feature lets users who have been away for a while quickly catch up with messages that mention them. And all they need to do is tap the @ button at the bottom of the chat.

Finally, you can now find anyone in a group by searching for them on the group info page.

All of these new features are available in the latest version of WhatsApp, available on Android and on iOS.

Improved admin privileges

WhatsApp now offers enhanced admin privileges, allowing admins to exercise greater control over group conversations. These new powers empower admins to restrict who can change the group’s subject, icon, and description, ensuring that group details remain consistent and focused.

Furthermore, admins can now choose specific group members who can change the group’s subject and icon, enabling them to delegate responsibilities and maintain a productive conversation environment.

With these improved admin privileges, group admins can effectively steer discussions, prevent irrelevant or off-topic conversations, and maintain the group’s purpose and direction.

Joinable Group Calls

The introduction of the “Joinable Group Calls” feature has garnered considerable attention among WhatsApp users. This new capability simplifies the process of joining ongoing group calls, making it more convenient for participants to join a conversation even after it has started.

Previously, joining a group call required having the call initiated by a participant or manually dialing in. However, with Joinable Group Calls, participants can seamlessly join ongoing audio or video calls without the need for an invitation or interruption to the conversation.

This feature proves particularly beneficial for professional settings, where spontaneous discussions or brainstorming sessions occur frequently. It ensures that team members and collaborators can easily join ongoing conversations and contribute their insights without delay.

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to making group communication more efficient and effective is evident in its recent roll-out of group chat improvements. These enhancements, including improved admin controls and convenient joinable group calls, aim to address the challenges faced in group communication and foster collaboration.

However, while WhatsApp’s improvements are commendable, they may not fully match the extensive collaboration features offered by dedicated platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams. For businesses seeking a more comprehensive collaboration experience, these alternatives may provide a better fit.

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