12 'much-needed' features we want to see in WhatsApp
WhatsApp is undoubtedly the most popular instant messaging app with over 1.5bn users worldwide. The Facebook-owned app has been on a roll lately, introducing new features regularly and constantly trying to make the app more user-friendly. However, even "the king of messaging apps" lacks some "much-needed" features, which users would love to see in WhatsApp. Here are 12 features we want WhatsApp to introduce.
Secret conversations and protecting chats, group conversations with passwords
WhatsApp needs to introduce "secret" or "incognito" chats where users can choose to send messages that "self-destruct" and set a timer after which they disappear. Sending a notification whenever someone tries to take a screenshot is useful, too. Also, having an option to lock a particular personal chat or group conversation with a password to keep them from prying eyes could be really helpful.
WhatsApp should seriously do something to prevent spread of rumors
In the past few days, over a dozen people in India, including a Google techie, became victims of mob-lynchings triggered by false information/rumors circulated on WhatsApp. Having a feature where admins of WhatsApp groups "approve" forwarded messages before they're sent could prevent the spread of fake news/rumors to some extent. Users should understand that forwarding "seemingly harmless" unverified news/messages can actually claim innocent lives.
WhatsApp must launch features to save us from annoying groups
WhatsApp currently allows anyone to create a group and add participants. Instead, it should ask users to "confirm" if they want to join a particular group; users should be given an option to accept/refuse "join group" invitation. Also, WhatsApp should introduce a feature for creating/planning events (like Facebook) so that users need not join annoying groups just because they are invited to some event.
Appear online to some contacts and stay invisible to others
Another much-needed feature which is currently missing in WhatsApp is for "appearing online" only to a particular user or a group of contacts. Also, WhatsApp should have an option to let users stay "invisible" to a certain set of contacts with whom they communicate very rarely. When users want to maintain privacy with such contacts, they need an option better than blocking them completely.
WhatsApp should introduce AR Stickers, Animoji to make conversations fun
WhatsApp has support only for Emojis while there are a number of fun ways to express oneself today. It should add support for Animoji (animated Emoji characters customized based on user's facial expressions), Memoji (Animoji avatar of users personalized to look like them), Bobbleheads (user's own bobblehead comic characters used to create stickers/comic stories), AR Stickers (Augmented Reality objects dropped into user's photos/videos).
Smart Replies-like feature, a virtual assistant, and better search
WhatsApp should have a feature like Google's "Smart Replies" that suggests quick responses to messages received, saving time. It can bring a virtual assistant to its platform like Allo's Google Assistant with which users can chat to get help, personalized information, get tasks done, Search for something online, etc. WhatsApp can also improve its search tool to make "chat search" easier by adding filters.
