WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.16.12: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.16.12.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to prompt group descriptions for communities, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Description for community group chats |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.16.12 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to experiment with the same feature by installing certain previous updates. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming days. |
| Thanks: | Rama and Technical MJ TV, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.16.10: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to share voice messages with Meta AI! |
DESCRIPTION FOR COMMUNITY GROUP CHATS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.11.11 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a feature to prompt group descriptions for communities. This improvement aimed to enhance the user experience by ensuring that community group chats always have clear and informative descriptions, making it easier for new members to understand the group's purpose. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with the public, as some users can now experience the prompt for group descriptions when creating new community chats. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.16.12 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to prompt group descriptions for communities!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can now experiment with the new group description prompt feature. This allows community admins to add detailed descriptions when creating new community group chats, ensuring that all new members are well-informed about the group's purpose and guidelines from the outset. It is worth noting that WhatsApp already allowed users to enter a description for their group chats during setup, but this option did not extend to groups added to communities. It's also important to highlight that this feature might be available to a large number of users, including those who have installed the latest stable versions from the Google Play Store.
We believe that this feature enhances communication within the community by clearly specifying the group description and its guidelines, which helps prevent misunderstandings. It facilitates member management by allowing potential new participants to determine if the group aligns with their interests and expectations before joining. With the previous updates, group admins had to manually add a description after creating a group, which they might forget to do. By prompting admins to immediately enter a description during the group creation process, WhatsApp ensures that this important step is never overlooked, as it becomes an integral part of setting up the group.
A feature to prompt group descriptions for communities is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming days.
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