WhatsApp, the Meta-owned short messaging platform used by over 2 billion people around the world, is constantly updating and adding new features.
The WhatsApp Messenger beta for iOS has received a new update, version 2.22.1.1. This new update includes hidden references to creating Communities in order to prepare for a future update.
WhatsApp was developing a feature called Communities. This feature extends WhatsApp’s group feature, in which group admins have more control over other WhatsApp groups. A WhatsApp Community admin is said to have more power than a group admin.
Admins will be able to create a Community chat, as seen in this screenshot. At the moment, the community feature appears to be similar to group chat; however, it is still a private space between people that is end-to-end encrypted.
When users join a community, they will also be unable to view groups that have been unlinked by a group admin. Furthermore, when users leave a community, they will no longer be able to view linked groups to the community.
Admins can now possess and perform a variety of other tasks thanks to new control options. It will also be available for both Android and iOS.
In related news, as part of a major push into e-commerce and business, WhatsApp is launching a feature that will allow users to search for nearby businesses directly within the app.
According to WABetaIfo, there will be a “Businesses Nearby” section added to the search menu where users can look for nearby restaurants, groceries, apparel & clothing stores, and more. Users will soon be able to search for hotels, restaurants, groceries, and clothing without leaving the app. This useful tool will be made available to iOS and Android users.