According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has introduced a new group chat layout with its latest group chat layout. iOS Release, 22.18.0.72. This new layout may be made available to Android beta users with a new update.
what does the new layout look like
As per the report, WhatsApp’s new design will replace the “forum-like discussion layout” for group chats. The report suggests that currently when users do group chats on WhatsApp, they cannot see participants’ profile pictures and the conversation continues in a “forum-like” layout. However, the new iOS release for the app has changed this so that iPhone users can include the participant’s profile picture next to their messages in group chats.
importance of attribute
Another report by SamMobile states that similar group chat layouts are already available in rival messaging platforms such as Telegram, Skype and Slack. The report mentions that this new feature can help group members identify who has messaged the group, at a glance at the profile picture associated with their messages. Also, this feature can be helpful for a large group where not all members are familiar with each other.
The report also claimed that the profile picture will appear next to incoming messages. This means that users who are messaging will not be able to see their profile picture while having a group chat. Apart from this, the report also mentions that there is no evidence that this feature is being offered in private chats which may be unnecessary.