Meta-owned global messaging service WhatsApp has introduced new features on its ‘WhatsApp Communities’.
Notably, the global messaging giant announced the rolling out of the new features through a statement in its official ‘Channels’ page.
“To complement communities on WhatsApp, we’re rolling out new features to group chats to help people,” announced WhatsApp.
WhatsApp further revealed the new features include Polls, Reactions, Large Voice Calls, Admin Controls and File Sharing.
In addition, the global messaging service noted that the Reactions feature is only available in the ‘Announcements’ space for up to 1,024 members.
WhatsApp Community
Communities bring members together in topic-based groups, with any user being able to create a community.
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Additionally, a user can create new topic-based groups or even add existing groups, according to the Meta-owned messaging service.
According to the messaging service, Community admins can reach members with important updates by sending announcements.
“Community members can also stay connected by exploring and chatting in groups that matter to them,” says WhatsApp.
On the other hand, members can receive updates sent to the entire community and easily organize smaller discussion groups on what matters to them.
WhatsApp further affirmed that personal messages and calls in communities are always end-to-end encrypted, with no one else being able to read or listen to them.
How to Create a Community
WhatsApp users can create a community with up to a hundred groups.
The global messaging service statement further reads, “Community Announcements will automatically be created for your community.”
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To create a community, a user is required to first go to the communities’ tab, Click on New community, and enter the community’s name.
With the Community name limited to a hundred characters, one can also add their own description and a community icon.
Additionally, a user can add a community icon by clicking add community icon and choose take photo, upload photo, emoji & sticker, or Web Search to add an image.
Once set, the icon will appear next to the community in the Chats tab and then click on the tick to create a Community.
Notably, the messaging service also notes, “One can only add up to 2,000 members to new and existing communities and community Announcements.”
Community Announcements
Notably, Announcements are spaces where community admins can send messages to all community members.
When in a community, users will always receive community announcements.
Admins can send announcements to broadcast updates and other relevant messages to all community members.
Only community admins can send messages in Announcements.
As a member, you can view how many members are in the community and mute notifications for announcements.
Additionally, everyone can see the total number of members in Announcements, however, only community admins can see all of the members in Announcements.
