WhatsApp may revamp the group chats layout with future update

The last few months have been quite busy for WhatsApp, as it is playing catchup in most departments with the rival messaging platforms. Most of the new features, that are under testing or development have been based around group chats. WhatsApp pushed the Communities feature this week for beta testers, and now there is a new improvement that is lined up to most probably arrive in a future update.

According to new info by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is spotted with a new group chat layout that part ways with the forum-like discussion layout for group chats. Apparently, when you have a group chat on WhatsApp, you see no profile picture and the conversation continues in a forum-like layout. Now the evidence in WhatsApp's latest iOS release, 22.18.0.72, shows WhatsApp could include the participant's profile picture next to their messages in group chats.

The feature has been spotted in the latest WhatsApp iOS release

This is something similar to what platforms like Telegram, Skype, and Slack already have. So, WhatsApp will be playing catchup here again. This feature would help the group members identify who has sent a message in a group with a glance at their profile picture attached to their messages. Moreover, it could be helpful for a large group where all members aren't familiar with each other. However, the profile picture will appear next to only the incoming messages.

You won't get to see a profile picture of your own when you send a message. There is no evidence that this feature will be making its way to one on one chat, which in my opinion would be too much to ask since you already get to see the profile picture on top when you are in a one-on-one chat.

Sagar Naresh

General WhatsApp