WhatsApp will let you mention group chats in status updates

WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature that will let you mention group chats in status updates. This is now live in the latest beta version of the app found in the Google Play Store for Android.

This comes after WhatsApp previously started testing allowing you to mention contacts in status updates, so mentioning group chats can be seen as an expansion of that feature. When a contact is mentioned, they receive a notification and a message in your chat with them.

With the ability to mention group chats in a status update, you will be able to notify entire groups in one step, without needing to mention each participant individually, especially seeing as how there's a limit of five individual contacts mentioned in each status update. The group chat you mention will receive a message about your mention in the group chat itself. Additionally, all members of the group will receive a notification about it, except those who have previously muted the group chat.

A status update that mentions a group chat will automatically be made visible to all members of that group, regardless of the current privacy configurations. For now it's unclear if there will be any restrictions to the ability to mention group chats in status updates - whether there will be limits on the maximum participants a group can have to be eligible for mentions, for example. There could also be a cap on the total number of groups that can be mentioned within a single status update.

All of these things will definitely become clearer as we get closer to the release of this feature for everyone.

Source

Reader comments

  • Smartwatchguy

Like is the case with anything with online connectivity. Most want ease of use and do not care how technology works and what they're giving up to save a few seconds here and there. Tech is moving faster than education and people are in for a hug...

  • Anonymous

Wew, a feature which can turn your group chat members into spies and leakers...