In an effort to improve the way users communicate on its platform, WhatsApp — under the umbrella of its parent company Meta — has unveiled four innovative text formatting options.
These options, including bulleted lists, numbered lists, block quotes, and inline code, are intended to streamline messaging processes and facilitate more effective communication between users.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced this groundbreaking update via his WhatsApp channel on Wednesday, February 21. Zuckerberg highlighted the importance of these features, stressing their role in saving time and improving the dynamics of communication, especially within group chats.
In order to take advantage of these new formatting tools, users need to follow a few simple steps. For example, creating a bulleted list requires using dashes followed by a space, while a numbered list starts with a number and a period. Users can also use block quotes by using an arrow key greater than followed by a space. Additionally, an embedded code can be inserted by pressing the accented symbol followed by a single space.
This expansion of formatting options adds to WhatsApp’s existing repertoire of text enhancements that include bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace features. Meta has ensured that these features are not limited to one-on-one chats, but are also available across channels within the platform.
The rollout of these updates extends to Android, iOS, Mac and WhatsApp web browsers, ensuring availability across devices. However, users are encouraged to remain patient as the update is being rolled out gradually, with some users already experiencing its benefits on the web version.
Meta’s proactive approach to improving WhatsApp’s capabilities underscores its commitment to providing users with seamless and enriched messaging. As these new features continue to permeate the platform, users can look forward to more organized and efficient conversations, both in one-on-one and group settings.
