How It Works
Inside the mention menu, where users normally tag individuals, a new “everyone” option has been added. Selecting it notifies every participant in the chat. That includes members who may have muted notifications or changed their privacy settings. The idea is to help groups share important messages without tagging each person one by one. This is significant, as around 57.5%[2] of all WhatsApp messages are already exchanged in groups.
Earlier Experiments
This development follows a previous test where group mentions were added to status updates. In that version, linking a group in a status automatically notified all members. It worked, but it wasn’t designed for direct conversation. The new option sits inside group chats themselves, which makes it more practical.
Available to All Members
The feature doesn’t appear to have restrictions. Both admins and regular members can use the mention. That ensures anyone in a group can reach the full audience, but it also raises concerns. Without admin controls, it could be misused in large groups where constant notifications become disruptive.
Risk of Spam
The tool could be abused. Spammers or overly active users might trigger “everyone” mentions repeatedly, pushing ads or unnecessary updates. In a busy community group, that would be frustrating. WhatsApp may need to introduce settings that let admins control who can use the option. Another safeguard could be a user-level choice (in individual groups or app setting) to block mass mentions altogether.
What to Expect Next
The feature is still under development and not part of the stable release. WhatsApp may refine how it works, add admin permissions, or test limits before making it widely available. The company has not announced a launch date.
For now, the update shows how WhatsApp is adjusting its tools for group communication. If implemented carefully, it could help groups deliver messages quickly. If left without checks, it risks turning into another way for unwanted notifications to spread.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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