WhatsApp has introduced a host of new features to make it easier to manage group chats. The update brings improvements to polls, an @all mention option for important announcements, and a faster way to create new group chats from current ones. The new features will be rolled out gradually and will be available to users over the coming weeks.
WhatsApp has redesigned its polling feature with a handful of new options, giving users more control. Poll creators can now specify a deadline for voting. When the deadline for the selected time is up, the poll will close, and members will no longer be able to vote. The platform has also reportedly added an option to hide the names of people who voted.
This allows the participants to express their choices without identifying themselves to other people in the group. Another addition allows users to edit poll questions within 15 minutes of posting them. The feature is designed to help fix typing mistakes or improve the question wording without deleting the original poll and creating a new one.
WhatsApp also introduced the @all mention feature for group chats. Users can now notify every member of a group through a single tag instead of mentioning participants one by one. The company said the feature is intended for messages that need immediate attention, such as event reminders, office announcements, school notices or schedule changes.
In groups with more than 32 members, only administrators will have permission to use the @all mention. Notifications sent through this feature will still reach users even if they have muted the group chat. Users who do not want such alerts can disable @all notifications through the app's notification settings.
Another feature allows users to create a new group directly from an existing chat without adding members manually again. The option is designed for situations where a smaller discussion is needed while keeping the main conversation separate.
WhatsApp said the feature can help users organize events, coordinate activities without filling the original group with unrelated messages. The latest update reflects WhatsApp's focus on improving collaboration and communication inside group chats. The features will be available to users in phases over the coming weeks.
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