WhatsApp gets group chats in which only administrators can send messages

WhatsApp will most likely get group chats in which only an admin can send messages. Other participants in the group cannot respond. For example, the function could serve for announcements from schools or companies.

The new group chat feature can be seen in screenshots from WABetaInfo showing that administrators can prevent other users of a group from sending text messages, pictures, videos, documents or gifs. This turns a group chat into a message board of administrators.

If you still want to send a message, you can send the administrator or administrators a text message via a special button. For example, the new group chats could find use in groups with a lot of users to hear certain announcements, such as at schools or companies. The media could also theoretically push links to news items via the new group chats. The functionality is equivalent to the channels that are possible in the app of competitor Telegram.

The update to enable this will not be released before May 6, 2018, WABetaInfo reports. WhatsApp has not yet responded to the rumor.