Communities on WhatsApp have revolutionized the way we communicate. organize and manage groups within the platform, facilitating communication and coordination among its members. Through constant updates, WhatsApp has added features that enhance the user experience, including the ability to create events y reply in threads within groups. These long-awaited tools represent a qualitative leap for those seeking more effective and organized communication.
Recent changes to WhatsApp: a more complete experience
WhatsApp continues to evolve and one of the first differences that jumps out is a renewed interface, more modern and minimalistThe new design eliminates the traditional blue, opting for a color palette of green and white tones, and features updated, stylized attachment icons. Navigation is more intuitive, thanks to the addition of three filters in the chats tab that allow you to view “All”, “Unread” and “Groups” independently, optimizing conversation management.
In the channels, WhatsApp now offers a double arrow icon for forward files and links quickly to other chats and groups, streamlining the distribution of information. However, the biggest improvements are focused on communities, especially with the arrival of events and possibility of replies in threads to keep the conversation structured and understandable.
Why do communities and groups benefit from these functions?
Communities bring together multiple thematic groups under one umbrella and allow both administrators and members to:
- Unify management: coordinating multiple related groups.
- Centralize ads: General notices reach all members directly.
- Facilitate planning: Thanks to events, it's now possible to organize in-person or virtual meetings easily.
- Sort conversations: Threaded replies allow for greater control over the flow of communication, especially in highly active groups.
How to create and manage events in WhatsApp communities
One of the great advances is the function of events within groups that are part of communities. This tool, similar to other platforms like Google Calendar or Slack, allows you to schedule any type of meeting, whether it's a get-together, a recreational activity, or a virtual call. The feature is open to both administrators as well as members of the group, offering maximum flexibility.
Steps to create an event on WhatsApp:
- Access the group belonging to a community.
- Press the icon clip or the “+” button next to the message box.
- Select option Event, represented by a calendar icon.
- Enter the event details: name, date, time, location and description (with a limit of up to 2.048 characters).
- Optionally add a link for a WhatsApp call (audio or video).
- Send the event to the group; all members will be notified.
Once the event is created, All members can see the invitation and confirm or decline their attendanceThose who confirm will receive automatic reminders as the date approaches. The event will also be visible in the group's information, making it easy to locate and review at any time.
It should be noted that, for security and organizational reasons, Only the person who created the event will be able to edit or cancel it.End-to-end encryption remains active, ensuring the privacy of each event's data and that of its participants.
The threaded reply feature: the key to sorting out chaotic conversations
On conversation threads They have been one of the most requested tools on WhatsApp, especially in large groups where messages multiply and it's easy to lose track of a discussion or relevant information. Thanks to this new feature, it's now possible reply to a specific message within a group, generating a subthread under the original message. All associated replies are grouped together, making it much easier to track topics and organize discussions.
Amongst the Main benefits of threads include:
- Improves clarity and organization of conversation, avoiding isolated or out-of-context responses.
- Facilitates the location of important information: Users can view a thread to see all related replies.
- Reduces confusion and noise in large groups, helping to focus discussions.
- Allows tracking of complex issues without having to review dozens of unrelated messages.
In the groups of notices or announcements, the replies in threads are minimized and grouped, keeping the main channel simple and functional, and allowing members to easily review the context of replies. Additionally, notifications for these threads are muted, avoiding inconvenience to those not directly participating.
Who can access these features and when will they be available?
Currently, the option to organize events and replies into threads is primarily available for users participating in the WhatsApp beta version and are part of communities. However, the company has announced that these features are being rolled out gradually and will soon be available enabled for all groups and communities from WhatsApp, both on Android and iOS.
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Regarding event management and thread management, WhatsApp ensures that Only group members can access private information, thanks to its encryption system. This policy continues to position WhatsApp as one of the most secure and reliable messaging apps on the market.
Just like platforms like Slack, Discord, and Telegram, these new features represent a step forward for school communities, sports teams, neighborhood associations, and groups of friends to communicate and organize in a much more professional and efficient manner.
In addition to events and replies in threads, there are several additional features to keep your chats organized and quickly access relevant information:
- Featured Posts: Mark important messages to easily find them later.
- Archive chats: Save conversations that you don't need to consult regularly, without deleting them.
- Advanced search: Search for messages, contacts, or specific terms directly in the top bar.
- Mailing lists: send the same message to multiple contacts without creating a group.
- Mute or delete chats: reduces noise and unnecessary notifications.
- Pin chats: Keep the most important conversations always in view, at the top of your chats.
These options, added to the new generation of events and replies in threads, allow a total and personalized management of daily activity on WhatsApp.
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