Whatsapp has introduced three major new features to its users. In a blog post, the Meta-owned app announced three new features: the ability to send files up to 2GB in size, emoji reactions, and the option to add 512 individuals to a group.
WhtasApp users can now send bigger files
WhatsApp users will now be able to share files up to 2GB in size at a time, all of which will be protected by end-to-end encryption. This is an upsurge from the previous limit, which was 100MB. According to the Meta-owned app, the feature will be useful for collaborating among small businesses and school groups.
Emoji reactions are now available
The message reactions feature, which was announced last month by WhatsApp, is now rolling out to its users. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, made the announcement on Facebook. With this, users on iOS and Android will be able to respond to messages in the same way they can on Instagram.
Users can currently select from six emojis: thumbs up, red heart, laughing face, astonished face, teary face, and hands together in thanks/prayer. However, WhatsApp has stated that more emoticons and skin tones would be added in the near future.
WhatsApp also shares a few things about this new feature:
- Each message can only have one reaction.
- When the message disappears, reactions to disappearing messages will also disappear.
- Reactions and reaction counts cannot be hidden.
- Recipients may observe your reaction before you remove it or if removing wasn’t successful.
- Users won’t be notified if removing a reaction was not successful.
Apart from emojis, a future update may also allow users to use stickers or GIFs in the instant messaging app. This new message reactions feature will appear just below a message in your WhatsApp chat.
Users can add more people to the group
The Meta-owned platform is “slowly rolling out the option” to add up to 512 individuals to a group. WhatsApp said that one of the top requests it consistently received is the option to add more people to a group chat. Acting upon the request, the instant messaging app is now rolling out the ability to add up to 512 people to a group.
Apart from this feature, the company has been testing a number of other features, including the ability to call up to 32 individuals, create a Community, and more.
