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Published: Saturday, July 15, 2023, 10:58 [IST]
In the world of instant messaging apps, WhatsApp has been continuously exploring new features to improve the user experience. One of the recent areas of experimentation has been the display of participant avatars in group chats, particularly when no profile picture is uploaded.
The Meta-owned messaging platform has been testing different approaches in this ongoing experiment, aiming to find the best way to represent participants without profile pictures. Let’s take a closer look at the recent changes and how they impact group chats.
Profile Pictures in Group Chats
Previously, WhatsApp group chats did not display profile pictures. Instead, participant names or phone numbers appeared above their messages. However, WhatsApp started testing the inclusion of profile pictures in group chats back in August 2022. Despite the initial testing, the feature was later paused.
The Latest Change
According to WABetaInfo, a reliable WhatsApp beta feature tracker, the latest change in group chats involves displaying the participant’s initial on a colorful background if they do not have a profile picture. This change is specifically introduced in the beta version 2.23.15.9 of the Android app.
Previously, participants without profile pictures were represented by a silhouette of a person with a colorful background. Now, the silhouette has been replaced by the participant’s initial, making it easier to identify individuals in the group chat.
Improved Identification and User Experience
This subtle change brings several benefits to WhatsApp group chats. By displaying the participant’s initial on a colorful background, the chat members can easily identify each other without relying solely on the color associated with their profile picture. It adds a personal touch to the group chat and makes it more engaging for the participants.
Challenges and Future Considerations
While this change is a step in the right direction, there are still some challenges to be addressed. For instance, it remains to be seen how WhatsApp will handle profile pictures if the account name starts with a special character. Ensuring consistency and accuracy in displaying avatars, especially when dealing with unique usernames, will be crucial for a seamless user experience.
Meta’s Efforts for Improved Usability
Apart from the avatar display experiment, Meta has introduced another feature to enhance usability. Users can now gradually detach WhatsApp from their smartphone apps and primarily use it on a computer through the WhatsApp Web platform. This new feature allows users to link WhatsApp Web with their phone number, which was previously only possible through the smartphone app for creating a WhatsApp account.
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published: Saturday, July 15, 2023, 10:58 [IST]
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