WhatsApp releases update: emoji reactions, larger files and groups
Meta has released a WhatsApp update that includes emoji reactions for the messenger. At the same time, the app raises the limits for group chats and shared files.
At the end of March, the news that WhatsApp was testing emoji reactions made the rounds. Testing is complete and distribution of the new features to everyone has begun.
Group chats doubled, file size increased twentyfold
Especially in chat groups, the emoji reactions should provide more clarity. Thus, the reactions to a message are now collected at this and no longer extend the chat history. WhatsApp plans to add more emojis to the selection of reactions "in the near future".
The more discreet reactions get further relevance from the fact that WhatsApp also announces in the blog post on emoji reactions to double the maximum number of participants in chats to 512.
In addition, after the update, you can share much larger files through Messenger. They can now be up to two gigabytes in size - before it was only 100 megabytes. WhatsApp sees this as especially beneficial "for collaboration in smaller companies and school groups." Like the chats, file transfers are also to be end-to-end encrypted.
The group voice calls with up to 32 participants announced a month ago have not yet made it into the current update.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.