Recently, WhatsApp has introduced several new features aimed at enhancing user experience, particularly in group chats. One of the most notable updates includes an ‘online’ indicator that shows how many members are currently active in a group conversation. However, users will see only the number of active participants and not their names. In addition to the online status, WhatsApp is providing better control over group notifications.
Users can now prioritize and highlight @mentions, replies, and messages from saved contacts, which can be enabled in the group chat’s Notifications settings by selecting the “Highlights” option. This functionality should help reduce chaos in busy group chats. Although WhatsApp has been testing threaded replies for improved organization, this feature is not yet part of the current updates. WhatsApp is also making messaging more interactive with improved reaction capabilities.
Users can now tap on existing reactions to add their own, making it easier to express agreement or acknowledgment. On the video calling front, WhatsApp has enhanced the video calling experience by optimizing its routing system for better connectivity, minimizing issues such as freezing and dropped calls. Moreover, video calls will transition to HD quality more swiftly when internet speeds increase. iPhone users can benefit from pinch-to-zoom functionality during calls and can set WhatsApp as their default messaging app, replacing Apple’s native options.
For WhatsApp Channels, enhancements include unique QR codes that allow easy access to channels, and the ability for admins to record and share short video clips of up to 60 seconds. Users can also receive transcripts of voice messages when they cannot listen to audio. Most of these updates are now available in WhatsApp’s latest stable versions for both iPhone and Android users. If new features are not visible immediately, users may need to wait for the rollout to complete.
Leave a Reply