Whatsapp rolls out reactions.Pic: WhatsApp
Messaging app WhatsApp is rolling out reactions to messages in chats, founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced.
“Reactions on WhatsApp start rolling out today” he wrote on Facebook with a stream of emoticons including a heart, a laughing emoji, a crying emoji and the thumbs-up emoji on Thursday.
“We’re including 🙏 to help spread thanks and appreciation. More expressions coming soon,” Zuckerberg commented on his post.
In April, WhatsApp said on its blog that “emoji reactions are coming to WhatsApp so people can quickly share their opinion without flooding chats with new messages”.
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Reactions are apart of a sleuth of new features WhatsApp announced would be released in 2022, including bigger group voice calls and a new feature called Communities.
The WhatsApp Update will include:
- Reactions – Emoji reactions are coming to WhatsApp so people can quickly share their opinion without flooding chats with new messages.
- Admin Delete – Group admins will be able to remove errant or problematic messages from everyone’s chats.
- File Sharing – File sharing increased to support files up to 2 gigabytes so people can easily collaborate on projects.
- Larger Voice Calls – One-tap voice calling was introduced for up to 32 people with all-new design for those times when talking live is better than chatting.
WhatsApp users could, from May, add 32 people on one group voice call.
The social media account on May 3, tweeted:
“Pro-tip: Now you can put 32 of your favourite people in ONE voice call. Sharing good news with your whole family means hearing all the joy and laughter in one easy call”
With Communities, users are able to bring related groups together in a way that “helps you organise meaningful connections easily and privately”. it said.
On April 14, WhatsApp said that since its launch in 2009, it has been focused on helping people have the best experience when chatting to an individual or a group of friends or family.
📣 We’re excited to announce a new feature rolling out later this year called Communities!
With Communities, you’ll be able to bring related groups together in a way that helps you organize meaningful connections easily and privately. pic.twitter.com/eatAZQCmc3
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) April 14, 2022
“Communities on WhatsApp will enable people to bring together separate groups under one umbrella with a structure that works for them,” WhatsApp said.
“That way people can receive updates sent to the entire Community and easily organise smaller discussion groups on what matters to them,” it wrote at the time.
“Communities will also contain powerful new tools for admins, including announcement messages that are sent to everyone and control over which groups can be included.”
Other features announced at the time include group admins being able to remove errant or problematic messages from everyone’s chats, file sharing increasing to support files up to 2 gigabytes and the larger voice calls.
