WhatsApp Introduces Major Group Chat Upgrades Including Enhanced Polls and @all Mentions

WhatsApp has announced three significant new features for group chats, now rolling out gradually on Android and iPhone apps. The main update improves group polls by allowing creators to set a closing time, after which voting locks and no changes can be made. This aims to help groups reach decisions within a defined timeframe. Additionally, poll creators can now hide voters’ identities to enable anonymous participation, encouraging more honest responses. Poll questions can also be edited within 15 minutes of posting to fix typos or clarify wording, though answers cannot be changed once published.

The second feature introduces the @all mention, enabling users to notify every group member with a single message. In groups larger than 32 participants, only admins can use this function, while in smaller groups all members have access. Notifications from @all can appear even if the group is muted, but users can mute these specific alerts separately without disabling personal mentions or replies.

Lastly, WhatsApp now allows users to quickly create a new group from an existing one by selecting participants directly, eliminating the need to add contacts individually. Users who do not see these features yet are advised to update their app via the app store and wait a few days as the rollout continues. No exact completion date for global availability has been provided.