WHATSAPP has issued a surprise update to the app – and it means big changes for group chats.
One of the top new features lets you see what group chats you have in common with someone else.
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This is very handy: maybe you’re trying to get away from an ex, or you’re leaving an employer.
Whatever the reason, the new WhatsApp update makes it possible.
Part of the update involves letting you search a contact’s name to find the groups that you’re both in.
“With the growth of Communities and their larger groups, we want to make it easy to know which groups you have in common with someone,” WhatsApp owner Meta explained.
“Whether you’re trying to remember the name of a group you know you share with someone or you want to see the groups you’re both in, you can now easily search a contact’s name to see your groups in common.”
Communities, if you missed them, were added last year.
They work as giant groups that contain smaller groups inside – it’s perfect for an neighbourhood group or an employer.
WhatsApp is trying to improve groups as Communities becomes more popular.
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The new update also gives more control to group admins.
“We’ve built a simple tool that gives admins the ability to decide who is able to join a group,” Meta said.
“When an admin chooses to share their group’s invite link, or make their group joinable in a community, they now have more control over who can join.
“Groups are where people have some of their most intimate conversations and it’s important that admins are able to easily decide who can and cannot come in.”
Meta says that the new WhatsApp features will start rolling out in the coming weeks.
Check your app regularly to see if you’ve got the update.
And make sure you’ve installed the latest updates from the Apple App Store for iOS on iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android.
