WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that would give group administrators more control and power. The Meta-owned instant messaging app may soon add a new option called ‘Approve new participants,’ which will allow group administrators to control who can join the group.
It would make it easier for group administrators to protect members’ privacy and reduce spam messages. The feature was discovered in WhatsApp for Android beta v2.22.18.9, which is available through the Google Play Beta program, but it is not yet available to testers.
According to WABetaInfo, a WhatsApp features tracker, the messaging service is working on a new feature that will allow group admins to decide who can join the group.
When it is released, WhatsApp group settings will include a “Approve new participants” option, allowing group admins to approve or reject incoming requests from people who all want to join a specific group.
The report also includes a screenshot of the new option, giving WhatsApp users an idea of how the feature will look when it becomes available.
The Approve new participants option is visible in the screenshot under the group settings menu at the bottom of the edit group admins option in WhatsApp group info. WhatsApp will almost certainly add a new section that lists all current requests from users who want to join the group.
The update is said to be rolling out via the Google Play Beta program, with the v2.22.18.9 beta for Android. The feature is still being worked on and is not available to beta testers.
The news comes just a few days after the Meta-owned social messaging platform announced a new privacy feature that allows participants to leave WhatsApp groups silently without informing other members.
Users will be able to leave a group privately without having to notify everyone except the admins. When someone leaves a group, WhatsApp currently displays an auto-generated notification. This month, all users will have access to the new functionality.
