Meta has started rolling out a new feature for WhatsApp called Group Message History, designed to reduce interruptions and improve context in group chats. With this feature, newly added members can easily catch up on previous conversations without relying on screenshots or manually forwarding past messages. Group admins now have the option to share past messages with newcomers, all while maintaining end-to-end encryption to ensure privacy.
How the Feature Works
Previously, when someone joined a WhatsApp group, they could only see messages sent after their addition, often leaving them out of ongoing discussions. With Group Message History, new members can now scroll through recent conversations that occurred before they joined, helping them understand the context immediately.
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The feature gives group admins control over whether past messages are visible to new members. Admins can also choose how much history to share, starting from the last 25 messages, allowing flexibility based on the type of group—be it for work, communities, or close friends.
Privacy and Transparency
WhatsApp emphasizes that the feature maintains its end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only group members can access the shared messages. When history is shared with new members, other participants will see notifications with timestamps and sender details, keeping transparency intact. The older messages shared to newcomers will also appear visually distinct from regular messages.
Availability
The Group Message History feature is being gradually rolled out and will eventually be available on both iOS and Android worldwide. Users are encouraged to update their WhatsApp app to the latest version to access this new functionality.