Meta introduces new updates to Whatsapp group chats

Meta has announced new updates to WhatsApp group chats, introducing improved polls, a new @all mention feature and an easier way for users to create new group chats from existing ones.

The company said the updates are designed to make group conversations easier to manage, help users make decisions faster and improve communication in busy chats.

According to Meta, group chats remain one of the most popular ways people use WhatsApp, whether to stay connected with family and friends or organise work, school and community activities.

Better polls for group decisions

WhatsApp users will now have more control when creating polls in group chats.

Meta said users can now set an end time for polls so voting automatically closes when the deadline is reached. Poll creators can also choose to hide voter names, allowing members to share their opinions privately.

In addition, poll questions can now be edited within 15 minutes after they are created, making it easier to correct mistakes or clarify a question.

The company said the new features will help users reach decisions more quickly when choosing meeting times, locations or other group activities.

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New @all mention feature

WhatsApp has also introduced the @all mention feature, allowing users to notify every member of a group with a single message instead of tagging people individually.

Meta explained that the feature is intended for important and time-sensitive updates, including school or office closures, event deadlines and last-minute plan changes.

For groups with more than 32 members, only administrators will be able to use the @all feature.

The company added that users will continue to control how they receive notifications and can turn off @all alerts in their notification settings, even though important messages will still appear in muted group chats.

Easier way to create new group chats

Another update allows users to create a new group chat directly from an existing group without adding members one at a time.

Meta said the feature is useful for creating separate conversations to plan events, organise logistics or continue discussions without filling the main group chat with extra messages.

Builds on earlier WhatsApp updates

The latest changes follow other group chat improvements introduced earlier this year, including group message history, member tags and event reminders.

Meta said the new features continue its effort to improve how people communicate in groups.

The company noted that WhatsApp now has more than 100 million users in the United States and over 3 billion users worldwide.