WhatsApp has just unveiled a new feature that will change how its Groups feature functions moving forward.
The communication app on Thursday revealed it is adding a new tool for its Groups called ‘Communities’.
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“Today we’re starting to test a major evolution of WhatsApp that we’ve been working on: WhatsApp Communities,” said Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which is WhatsApp’s parent company.
Communities will allow WhatsApp users to bring together separate groups “under one umbrella with a structure that works for them,” the press release stated.
People will be also able to receive updates sent to the Community and easily sift through smaller discussion groups.
The new feature will come equipped with tools for admins, including allowing them to send announcement messages to everyone at once and giving them control over which groups can be included.
“It’s been clear for a while that the way we communicate online is changing,” Zuckerberg said.
“Most of us use social networks and feeds to discover interesting content and stay updated.”
“But for a deeper level of interaction, messaging has become the center of our digital lives. It’s more intimate and private, and with encryption, it’s more secure too.”
The tool will be especially helpful for organizations like schools, clubs, and non-profits, enabling them to communicate securely, WhatsApp officials noted.
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“We think Communities will make it easier for a school principal to bring all the parents of the school together to share must-read updates and set up groups about specific classes, extracurricular activities, or volunteer needs,” the statement read.
Zuckerberg said the tool was going to be rolled out slowly, but that he expects it to be an “important evolution for WhatsApp and online communication overall.”
He added that Meta may also build the feature across its other social media platforms such as Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram.
“I’m excited to see how this progresses as we start testing WhatsApp Communities today and roll it out over the coming months,” Zuckerberg said.
WhatsApp was launched in 2009 and since then has solidified its place as the world’s largest communication app.
As of 2022, the platform boasts more than 2 billion users.
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