WhatsApp Update: The online counter feature is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of beta for Android from the Google Play Store.
The Meta-owned WhatsApp is currently working on several new features to provide a better user experience on its platform. According to a recent report, the instant messaging giant is working on an online counter feature for group chats. This new feature shows the number of participants currently online in the top bar of group chats, giving a quick view of their availability.
“It seems that WhatsApp is experimenting with new enhancements for the chat interface, with the aim to make it even more useful. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.25.30 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out an online counter feature for group chats,” WABetaInfo reported.
The screenshot shared in report revealed that some beta testers can explore a new feature that displays the number of participants currently online in the top app bar of group chats.
Previously, the top app bar in group chats displayed a summary of the group participants’ names and their current activity.
In this update, the Meta-owned app has replaced the activity-based summary in the top app bar with the number of participants currently online. This feature provides users with a quick view of how many group members have the app open and are connected to the service.
“It’s worth noting that this count does not reflect how many participants are actively engaging in the group chat but only those who have the app open,” WABetaInfo said.
The report further mentioned that the number of participants currently online excludes any members who have turned off their online status visibility from their privacy settings. These users will not be included in the count, ensuring that their privacy settings are always respected.
This approach will maintain the balance between offering useful group insights and protecting individual privacy preferences, as it excludes users who have chosen to hide their online status from being considered.