WhatsApp adds ANOTHER new button in major change for group chats – and people fear it could start arguments
WHATSAPP has revealed another shake-up coming to billions of accounts across the world.
The messaging app has made a number of unpopular changes lately, including an AI chatbot button you can’t get rid of.
In the latest update, Meta tech boss Mark Zuckerberg, 41, announced that group chats will now have an “audio hangouts” feature.
Unlike normal voice chats, these are moments everyone can seamlessly hop in and out of at any time.
It’s designed to work without having to leave your group chat or switch to a call.
And it won’t notify or ring anyone either.
The feature was previously limited to large groups only but now anyone in your group can start a voice chat.
“Today we’re rolling out Voice Chats to all groups on WhatsApp, making it easier to create an audio hangout that anyone in your group can pop in and out of,” Zuckerberg said.
His company added: “Whether it’s a nail-biting football game, a dramatic season finale or sharing some big news, sometimes you need to talk it out with those available at that moment.
“That’s why we’re bringing voice chat to groups of all sizes so you can connect live over audio whenever.”
But some users have already asked how to disable the tool, while others fear it could ignite arguments.
“Is there a way to disable the voice chat?,” one person wrote on X.
“Finally, group debates can go from passive-aggressive texting to full-blown voice chaos,” another joked.
“I’m here for it.”
A third commented: “Group chats just leveled up. Why text-fight when you can talk it out live?”
The move comes days after WhatsApp shut down on three popular smartphones.
Meta put out an update at the start of May which caused WhatsApp to stop working permanently.
OPINION: AI FOR WHATSAPP IS NOT THE WAY
By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Assistant Editor at The Sun
When will Meta stop pushing all this extra guff and let WhatsApp be a chat app?
It’s gradually morphing into its bigger sibling, Facebook, with status updates and communities, already perfectly served elsewhere.
Or, at least give people real choice with an option to hide them.
WhatsApp is powerful because virtually everyone has it, with billions of users across the globe.
It’s the one place where all my family updates are usefully kept – in between useless chatter about the neighbour’s latest disruption or moans about the council not cleaning the street.
We make important arrangements there, share holiday snaps and live location when meeting up, and for that I’m thankful for WhatsApp’s vital role.
But with the arrival of an AI chatbot, I’m ready to delete WhatsApp unless bosses change course pronto.
From May 5, WhatsApp only supported iPhones running iOS 15.1 or later.
This meant handsets too old to update to iOS 15.1 are effectively shut out of the app.
The following models are affected:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
How to use Audio Hangouts on WhatsApp
Anyone in a WhatsApp group can start a voice chat by swiping up and holding for a few seconds.
Voice chats are pinned to the bottom of your chat.
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