Key points
- New members can view past chats
- Admins choose which messages to share
- Feature can be disabled by admins
- Shared chats remain end-to-end encrypted
ISLAMABAD: Meta-owned messaging service WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that allows newly added group members to view selected messages sent before they joined.
The update, called Group Message History, enables group administrators and existing participants to share between 25 and 100 recent messages with newcomers. Previously, users joining a group could only see messages posted after their arrival, which often caused confusion in busy chats.
According to a post on WhatsApp’s official blog, the chat history is not shared automatically. Instead, admins must manually choose to send recent messages at the time a new member is added. The shared messages are clearly distinguished from regular chat entries, display the original sender names and timestamps, and trigger a notification to all group members when history is shared.
Group administrators can also opt to disable the feature entirely if they prefer not to allow past messages to be shared.
WhatsApp said the feature is being rolled out to both Android and iOS users and will become available worldwide in the coming weeks. The company added that any messages shared through this tool will remain protected by end-to-end encryption, in line with its existing privacy standards.
