WhatsApp announces huge update with three brand new features

Users of the messaging service will be happy about these!

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 16th Dec 2019
Last updated 16th Dec 2019

WhatsApp is one of the most popular smartphone apps around the world, with most people using it to keep in touch with their loved ones over normal SMS text messaging or emailing. The app, which is owned by Facebook, is regularly updated with new features to keep it at the top of its game.

Now, a new update has been released, with three new features that WhatsApp users are sure to find interesting - including one about those all-consuming group chats that we all get sucked into.

The first feature to mention is the new Reminders system, which is channelled through the app Any.Do - but a subscription will cost you around £5 a month. The clever feature lets users track everything they need to keep on top of using a chat bot which you can forward messages to and receive an alert when it's due.

The second is a 'call waiting' option which will see users have the option to put people on hold so that you can answer another call, and the third we're sure we'll prove very popular with most users, as it will allow you to control who can add you to a group chat.

Instead of being able to automatically be added to a new group chat, you can set it so that only people in your contacts can add you to a new group, or alternatively you can specify people who aren't allowed to add you into chats - which is an excellent new safety feature.

Whatsapp wrote a statement which read, 'WhatsApp groups continue to connect family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and more. As people turn to groups for important conversations, users have asked for more control over their experience.

'Today, we’re introducing a new privacy setting and invite system to help you decide who can add you to groups. With these new features, users will have more control over the group messages they receive,' adding that the new security settings will be rolled out over the next few days.

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