WhatsApp on Jan. 7, 2026, announced new features for group chats, expanding tools that allow users to manage conversations and express context within shared spaces, according to an official WhatsApp blog post.
Image: Whatsapp
The announcement introduces member tags, text stickers, and enhanced event reminders for group chats. Member tags allow users to assign a role or identifier that is visible within a specific group and can differ from one group to another. The Meta-owned messaging app said the feature is intended to provide clearer context about participants without changing account profiles.
Text stickers allow users to turn typed words into stickers through Sticker Search. Newly created text stickers can be added directly to sticker packs without first sending them in a chat. WhatsApp said this is designed to help messages stand out visually within conversations.
The update also adds expanded event reminders. When creating an event in a group chat, users can now set custom early reminders for participants. WhatsApp said this is meant to help group members remember scheduled activities, whether in person or online.
These features join existing group chat capabilities already available on WhatsApp, including screen sharing, large file sharing of up to 2GB, HD media sharing, and voice chats.
Separately, as per WABetaInfo (WBI), WhatsApp is testing and developing additional features through its Android beta program. In WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.1.28, some beta testers can share recent group chat history with new members. The feature is optional, disabled by default, limited to a maximum of 100 messages, and protected by end-to-end encryption.
In a another beta version, 2.26.1.30, as pe WBI, WhatsApp is working on primary controls that would allow parents to manage secondary accounts with limited features, including default contacts-only messaging and calling restrictions. This parental control functionality remains under development and is not yet available for public testing.
Digital Information World contacted WhatsApp but the company did not provide timelines for wider availability of the beta features. We'll update this post if we get any response.
Notes: This post was drafted with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed, edited, and published by humans.
Read next:
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The announcement introduces member tags, text stickers, and enhanced event reminders for group chats. Member tags allow users to assign a role or identifier that is visible within a specific group and can differ from one group to another. The Meta-owned messaging app said the feature is intended to provide clearer context about participants without changing account profiles.
Text stickers allow users to turn typed words into stickers through Sticker Search. Newly created text stickers can be added directly to sticker packs without first sending them in a chat. WhatsApp said this is designed to help messages stand out visually within conversations.
The update also adds expanded event reminders. When creating an event in a group chat, users can now set custom early reminders for participants. WhatsApp said this is meant to help group members remember scheduled activities, whether in person or online.
These features join existing group chat capabilities already available on WhatsApp, including screen sharing, large file sharing of up to 2GB, HD media sharing, and voice chats.
Separately, as per WABetaInfo (WBI), WhatsApp is testing and developing additional features through its Android beta program. In WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.1.28, some beta testers can share recent group chat history with new members. The feature is optional, disabled by default, limited to a maximum of 100 messages, and protected by end-to-end encryption.
In a another beta version, 2.26.1.30, as pe WBI, WhatsApp is working on primary controls that would allow parents to manage secondary accounts with limited features, including default contacts-only messaging and calling restrictions. This parental control functionality remains under development and is not yet available for public testing.
Digital Information World contacted WhatsApp but the company did not provide timelines for wider availability of the beta features. We'll update this post if we get any response.
Notes: This post was drafted with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed, edited, and published by humans.
Read next:
• We’re talking about AI all wrong. Here’s how we can fix the narrative
• Why are older adults more likely to share misinformation online?
