WhatsApp is rolling out four new features to help users keep up with busy group chats. The update lets users pin messages indefinitely, share chat history with members after they have joined, post a status visible to just one group, and filter chats to see only those where they were mentioned or replied to. The new filter is likely the most practical of the lot. It brings together every unread group conversation where you were tagged or got a direct reply, including @all messages, so the chats that need your attention show up first.
Everyone in that group can view, react to and add their own status, and updates vanish after 24 hours.
The company says these messages stay end-to-end encrypted, like all personal chats. You can reply privately to one person within a group, switch off “allow multiple answers” on polls to get a single decisive vote, and use member tags to add context, such as “Sam’s Dad” in the parents group or “Treasurer” in a volunteer group. Pinned messages no longer need an expiry date either. Users can now keep an important message pinned forever instead of choosing a time limit up front. Sharing message history has become more flexible too. Now that history can be sent even after someone has joined, simply by tapping their name in the chat. Group status works like a regular WhatsApp status, except only members of a chosen group can see it. It means a post meant for your running club does not have to reach your family group as well. These new features add to a set of existing group tools that many users may have missed. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Earlier this year, WhatsApp let users send recent messages to new members while adding them to a group.