Meta-owned WhatsApp has rolled out a significant update aimed at enhancing the user experience within group chats. The popular messaging platform, used by billions in India and worldwide, is introducing features designed to bring more organisation, self-expression, and better coordination to shared conversations.
Introducing Member Tags for Clearer Group Roles
One of the most significant additions is the introduction of member tags. This feature allows users to assign themselves custom labels that describe their role or identity within a specific group chat. For instance, in a school parents' group, a user could tag themselves as "Rohan's Mother," while in a residential society chat, they might appear as "Secretary" or in a sports group as "Captain."
It is crucial to note that these tags are group-specific. This means a user can have a different identity in each group, providing contextual clarity without mixing personal and professional roles. WhatsApp has stated that this feature will roll out gradually to users worldwide in the coming weeks.
Express Yourself with New Text Stickers
Moving beyond emojis and GIFs, WhatsApp is making it easier for users to express themselves with the new text stickers feature. Users can now convert any word or phrase into a sticker simply by typing it into the Sticker Search bar.
A key improvement is that these newly created text stickers can be saved directly to a user's personal sticker pack without the need to send them in a chat first. This makes reusing custom expressions, inside jokes, or frequent phrases much more convenient and faster.
Smarter Planning with Custom Event Reminders
Recognising that group chats are often used for planning, WhatsApp is adding a practical upgrade for events. Users creating an event inside a group chat can now set custom early notifications.
This feature is designed to reduce missed plans, late arrivals, or forgotten virtual meetings. Invitees will receive reminders ahead of the scheduled time, helping groups coordinate more efficiently and ensuring important gatherings are not overlooked in busy chat streams.
Building on a Foundation of Group Features
These new tools build upon a series of group-focused features WhatsApp has introduced over recent years. The platform already allows users to share large files up to 2GB in size, send HD photos and videos, use screen sharing during video calls, and initiate voice chats for real-time discussions without ringing everyone's phone.
According to WhatsApp, these latest updates are part of its continuous effort to provide the best group chat experience across all platforms and devices. As group conversations become central to both personal life and professional work in India, the app is focused on reducing friction, improving clarity, and giving users more control over their interactions.
