WhatsApp just released a new beta that includes some interesting features, two of which are especially prominent because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up changing how people interact with the messaging app. The first notable feature that beta testers have spotted is a chat filter, one that can allow users to filter out unread messages that they don’t have any intention of opening up.
This feature will also allow users to check their unread messages without scrolling through their entire message history. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the second feature that WhatsApp is working on is even more interesting since it involves WhatsApp groups and their admins.
WhatsApp has been placing a lot of emphasis on its group feature, including increasing maximum group size to 512. The latest update to the Groups feature will allow Admins to select an option that will allow them to create an automatic approval link. Any users that clicks on this link will automatically be added to the group without admins having to respond to each and every request or add members themselves with all things having been considered and taken into account.
The first of these two features is already on its way to a wider rollout, but in spite of the fact that this is the case the second feature still seems to be a work in progress. It is yet to be seen when WhatsApp will make it available to beta testers, but when it eventually gets rolled out it will likely impact the platform’s user acquisition rate.
WhatsApp has been battling competitors for the very first time after it was acquired by Facebook, and all of these new features are an attempt to measure up to them. Facebook is also increasingly relying on WhatsApp and the emphasis on Groups is a part of that since it is a very social media-esque feature that might get integrated with Facebook in the future. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but Facebook will be eager to see positive results from its messaging app.
Read next: WhatsApp Will Soon Issue Alerts To Users About Their Missed Calls
This feature will also allow users to check their unread messages without scrolling through their entire message history. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the second feature that WhatsApp is working on is even more interesting since it involves WhatsApp groups and their admins.
WhatsApp has been placing a lot of emphasis on its group feature, including increasing maximum group size to 512. The latest update to the Groups feature will allow Admins to select an option that will allow them to create an automatic approval link. Any users that clicks on this link will automatically be added to the group without admins having to respond to each and every request or add members themselves with all things having been considered and taken into account.
The first of these two features is already on its way to a wider rollout, but in spite of the fact that this is the case the second feature still seems to be a work in progress. It is yet to be seen when WhatsApp will make it available to beta testers, but when it eventually gets rolled out it will likely impact the platform’s user acquisition rate.
WhatsApp has been battling competitors for the very first time after it was acquired by Facebook, and all of these new features are an attempt to measure up to them. Facebook is also increasingly relying on WhatsApp and the emphasis on Groups is a part of that since it is a very social media-esque feature that might get integrated with Facebook in the future. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but Facebook will be eager to see positive results from its messaging app.
Read next: WhatsApp Will Soon Issue Alerts To Users About Their Missed Calls
