Facebook and WhatsApp parent company Meta has just announced that it’s bringing new updates to WhatsApp, which bring some handy new functions for group chats, including easier ways to manage group polls and get messages across chats with many members.
That being said, group polls are getting three significant upgrades to help users reach a consensus faster—Poll creators can now set a specific end time to lock voting automatically once a deadline passes, and voter names can now be hidden to keep responses anonymous for sensitive topics. Additionally, users can edit their poll questions within a 15-minute window to correct typos or clarify options without starting over.
Photo: Meta
READ: WhatsApp’s Lockout Glitch Is a Reminder Not to Rely on One App
To ensure urgent messages do not get lost in fast-moving threads, WhatsApp is introducing the @all mention. Typing @all notifies every member in the group instantly—ideal for time-sensitive announcements like event deadlines, venue changes, or emergency closures. The feature alerts members even if a chat is muted, though users retain full control to turn off notifications in their settings. To prevent spam in larger communities, @all is restricted to admins only in groups with more than 32 participants.
Finally, starting a side conversation no longer requires manually adding members one by one. A new feature allows users to instantly spin off a new group chat using a subset of members from an existing group. This makes it seamless to set up side groups for logistics, sub-committees, or surprise event planning without cluttering the main thread.
