WhatsApp has recently rolled out a new feature known as Group Message History, aimed at assisting users in quickly catching up when they join group chats. This feature enables group administrators and members to send a curated selection of recent messages to new participants. Upon joining a group, existing members can choose to share anywhere between 25 to 100 of the latest messages, offering context without the need for screenshots or manual forwarding.
In a recent blog update, WhatsApp assured users that the feature maintains end-to-end encryption, in accordance with the platform’s robust privacy policies. The company emphasized that sharing message history necessitates an explicit action by a member, and group administrators have the option to deactivate this function. Even if the broader setting is disabled, admins will still have the ability to distribute message history.
To ensure transparency, WhatsApp will alert all group members when message history is shared, displaying timestamps and sender information clearly. Messages included in the shared history will be visually differentiated from new messages in the chat.
The deployment of Group Message History is being rolled out gradually and will be progressively expanded in phases.