WhatsApp to introduce new features: collage photos, threaded conversations, and broadcast limits

WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging platform is rolling out a series of innovative updates to enhance user experience and streamline communication. 

Among these updates is a new feature for sharing stories called ‘collage photos,’ designed to improve the clarity and effectiveness of status updates. Alongside this, the app is introducing threaded conversations to organize message replies, and testing limits on broadcast messages to curb spam. These developments, spotted in the Android beta version 2.25.8.5, signal WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to evolving its platform for both individual and business users.

The collage photos feature, first reported by Android Authority, introduces a creative way for users to share multiple images in a single status update. When attempting to post a media status, users will notice a new ‘Layout’ button. This option allows them to attach up to six photos, which can then be arranged in various grid configurations. Beyond selecting a layout, users have the flexibility to reposition images within the grid to match their preferred aesthetic or storytelling style. 

The goal, according to developers, is to reduce the clutter often caused by posting multiple individual photos in quick succession. This offers a cleaner and more cohesive presentation for viewers. However, beta testers have noted that while the feature is visible in version 2.25.8.5, it is not yet fully functional, meaning users cannot post a finalized collage to their status. 

This is not the only enhancement WhatsApp is working on. Just days prior to the collage photos discovery, an Android beta update introduced a feature to organize message replies into threaded conversations. This addition aims to eliminate the confusion that often arises in busy group chats or lengthy individual threads, where replies can become disjointed and hard to follow.

By grouping responses under their corresponding original messages, threaded conversations promise to bring a new level of organization to WhatsApp’s interface. This feature, still in development, is anticipated to roll out across individual chats, group conversations, communities, and channels in a future update, making it easier for users to track discussions without sifting through a chaotic stream of messages.

Monthly limit on WhatsApp broadcast messages 

In addition to these user-facing improvements, WhatsApp is testing monthly limits on broadcast messages as part of an effort to reduce spam on the platform. For individual users, the app will allow at least 30 broadcast messages per month. This cap ensures that casual users can still communicate with larger groups, such as friends or family, without excessive restrictions.

Business accounts, however, will be allowed to send 250 customized broadcast messages for free each month. Once this threshold is exceeded, businesses will incur a fee for additional messages under a paid tier of the broadcast messaging feature. Meta has yet to disclose specific pricing details, but the paid model is slated to launch in the coming months, marking one of the first instances of monetization for WhatsApp’s merchant-focused services outside of its API offerings.

These updates reflect WhatsApp’s dual focus on enhancing user engagement and maintaining platform integrity. The collage photos and threaded conversations features cater to the app’s massive user base, over 2 billion people worldwide, by offering tools to make communication more visually appealing and manageable. Meanwhile, the broadcast message limits address a growing concern about spam, a persistent issue as the platform expands its utility for both personal and commercial purposes. 

While these features are still in the testing phase and not yet available to all users, their development highlights WhatsApp’s responsiveness to feedback and its ambition to remain a leader in the messaging space. The collage photos feature, in particular, draws inspiration from trends seen on other social media platforms, where visual storytelling has become a staple.

Similarly, threaded conversations echo functionalities found in apps like Slack or Discord, adapting them for WhatsApp’s broader audience. The broadcast limits, meanwhile, align with Meta’s broader strategy to monetize its services while curbing misuse, a move that could pave the way for additional paid features down the line.