WhatsApp Launches Broadcast-Type Feature for Group Admins

A recent WhatsApp update brought a new group messaging feature similar to broadcast-type communication.

Reports noted that the rolling out the update was like giving group admins a huge microphone since they will be allowed to send one-way communications to members of their WhatsApp groups.

“One way people use groups is to receive important announcements and information, including parents and teachers at schools, community centers, and non-profit organizations. We've introduced this new setting so admins can have better tools for these use cases,” WhatsApp said in a blog post on Friday.

To use the new feature, admins will have to update their WhatsApp mobile apps to the latest version. Admins will then have to open the Group Info menu, select the Send Messages settings under the Group Settings menu, and then enable the Only Admins option.

Meanwhile, some reports have also likened the new WhatsApp group setting to a previously launched feature on Telegram, another widely used messaging app on mobile and desktop. WIStv.com noted that the new WhatsApp broadcast-type communication feature somewhat shows Facebook’s trend in drawing inspiration from rival apps in improving their own services.

Before the one-way messaging on group threads, WhatsApp received other new features and updates focused on improving group messaging experience on the Facebook-owned app.

Earlier this year, WhatsApp allowed adding group descriptions so admins can put a “short blurb found under group info that allows you to set the purpose, guidelines, or topics for the group.” WhatsApp also gave more options for admins to control “who can change the group's subject, icon, and description.”

With the recent WhatsApp updates, developers have added an @ button that group members can use to jump back to previously sent messages in the group where they were tagged.

All the mentioned updates will be rolled out to users around the world. WhatsApp can be installed for free on Android and iOS.