WhatsApp has been rolling out a handful of new features lately, with most of the tweaks aimed at giving group chats a proper upgrade.
First up is Group Status. This feature lets you post updates that are strictly visible to your group members. Everyone in the chat can view, react to, or like your status, as well as chip in with their own. Just like the standard status updates, these also vanish after 24 hours.
If you are added to a chat late, catching up is about to get much easier. WhatsApp already allows admins to share past messages with newcomers as they join. Now, you can also share older messages with new members after they have already joined simply by tapping on their name in the group chat.
When it comes to keeping track of important messages, you no longer have to worry about countdowns. WhatsApp now allows you to pin messages in group chats permanently, removing the old time limits entirely.
Finally, there is a handy new chat filter to help you cut through the noise. It gathers every unread group chat where someone has mentioned you, sent a direct reply, or tagged @all, making it much easier to spot the notifications that actually matter to you.