WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform owned by Meta, has introduced a new feature allowing users to pin messages in both individual and group chats. This feature, which has begun rolling out to users, enables individuals to highlight important messages, including text, polls, images, and emojis, in a single chat at a time.
According to a statement from WhatsApp, the introduction of pinned messages aims to enhance user experience by facilitating the easy retrieval of important and timely messages. It’s emphasized that all message types, regardless of content, are end-to-end encrypted to ensure user privacy.
To utilize the ‘Pin’ feature, users can long-press on a message and select ‘Pin’ from the context menu. Upon selection, a banner will appear, allowing users to choose the duration for which the message will be pinned—options include 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days. The default choice is set to seven days. In group chats, administrators can decide whether all members or only admins have the authority to pin a message.
This move by WhatsApp is in line with the practices of other messaging apps like Telegram and iMessage, both of which already offer a pin message option for users in both individual and group chats.
In a recent update, WhatsApp also introduced disappearing voice messages, following the introduction of the “View Once” option for photos and videos in 2021. This feature adds an extra layer of privacy by allowing users to send voice messages that can only be listened to once before automatically disappearing.
