By Emmanuel Ogbodo
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, is rolling out new features aimed at giving community admins enhanced control over group chat visibility. The update, currently available in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.17.5, allows admins to manage who can see specific group chats.
With this new feature, admins will have the ability to set visibility options for newly created groups, making them visible only to invited members and admins, while keeping them hidden from the general community. Once a group is added to the community, its visibility setting becomes fixed, ensuring member privacy.
At present, this visibility feature is accessible only to a select group of beta testers with the latest WhatsApp beta for Android. However, it is expected to be rolled out to a wider audience soon.
This update aims to simplify community management on WhatsApp, enabling admins to create hidden groups for private discussions, exclusive chats, or moderator coordination. This enhancement is a significant step toward improving confidentiality and security in group conversations.
In addition to the visibility feature, WhatsApp is also working on allowing users to share voice messages with Meta AI, the company’s free AI assistant available across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The platform is experimenting with AR call effects and filters on Android as part of its ongoing innovation efforts.
