WhatsApp has introduced new features to make group chats easier to manage, more useful and more private.
The messaging platform has rolled out three new features focused on improving polls in group chats.
With the new update, users can hide their names when voting in polls, so others cannot see how they voted. Users can also set a time limit for polls and edit a poll within 15 minutes of creating it.
WhatsApp is also adding an @all mention feature that allows users to notify everyone in a group at the same time. However, in groups with more than 32 members, only group admins will be able to use the feature.
Another new option, called “Create a similar group,” is available from the group details screen. It allows users to create a smaller group by selecting members from an existing group, making it easier to organize separate conversations.
These new features are currently being rolled out to WhatsApp users.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is testing three new chat theme categories for Android users.
The “Featured” category includes animated wallpapers with slow, subtle movement, adding visual effects without distracting users from their chats.
The “Doodle” category brings back WhatsApp’s classic patterned backgrounds, while the “Minimal” category offers simple white or dark backgrounds based on the device’s system settings.
All three categories automatically adjust chat bubble colors to match the selected background.
The new chat theme options are still under development and are not yet available to beta testers.
