WhatsApp adds Group Status, permanent pins and a mentions filter

By the GetNews desk · Edited by Sam Calder

Four new group-chat features, including sending earlier messages to people who join later.

4new group features

Hype check

Hype2

Real5

Underrated

Quieter than it deserves. This one matters more than the coverage suggests.

Our editorial opinion, based on the sources below. How we score

Your call: hype or real?

Real = it will matter in daily use. Hype = louder than it is. One vote, and it can’t be changed.

Our view and readers’ views are opinions, not statements of fact about a product.

Why it matters

Large groups get easier to follow, and new members catch up faster.

For most people

Watch: features arrive gradually, so you may not see them today.

Group Status: share a status with one group; members can view, react and add their own; it disappears after 24 hours.
Pin a message with no time limit instead of choosing a duration up front.
Send recent messages to someone after they join by tapping their name; they stay end-to-end encrypted.
A new filter shows unread chats where you were mentioned, got a direct reply or were included in an @all message.
WhatsApp's blog does not say which platforms get these or when everyone will see them.

Try itTry them when they appear in your app; they may take a little while.

The company or lab said it. Primary source linked. Open the sources and check us.

Written with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above. How we work

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