An update to the messaging tool WhatsApp now allows users to tag people in group chats so they receive a notification.
The new feature will alert users to the message even if they’ve muted a conversation.
To tag someone, enter the ‘@’ symbol, followed by the contact’s name.
Similar to other social networks like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, a menu will pop up where you can select the contact. You can tag multiple contacts in a single message, as well as contacts that aren’t saved in your address book but are part of the same group chat.
The app has also expanded group sizes from 100 up to 256 participants, which makes the ‘@’ message function vital for ensuring your message gets seen by the right person.
As the Facebook-owned app continues to add more ways for users to communicate with each other, such ascending and drawing on images, there is more opportunity for an important message about who needs to buy milk next getting lost in the chat without the ‘@’ function.
WhatsApp has been expanding other chat features recently. Users can now quote messages in a group chat to make it clear which message they’re responding to. When a message appears in a conversation, a reply button should appear at the top of the screen. Tap the arrow, and the quoted message will pop up as a preview on top of the text entry box. Then you can add your reply and send it off like a normal WhatsApp message.
The new tagging feature is available on the Android and iOS versions, but not the desktop app.
Source - Wired
