A few months ago WhatsApp surprised us with Communities, a new feature that allowed users to create a different way of ordering groups of people under the same common denominator. It could already be your neighborhood community than your gym buddies.
WhatsApp groups and communities of WhatsApp Both allow you to be in contact with several people at the same time, but many users do not quite understand the difference between the two after taking this feature with us for a while.
Just like what happened with WhatsApp Web or the possibility of using WhatsApp on different devices at the same time, changes are always difficult, especially when we talk about an app that is used by several million people a day.
So, What characteristics differentiate WhatsApp groups and communities? This guide will help you understand the differences between a WhatsApp community and a WhatsApp group.
1º Share content
Communities and WhatsApp groups are different in terms of communication. Users can send texts and media in groups, react to messages, create polls, and mention other people. All members can share any content they want unless restricted by the group admin.
WhatsApp communities work differently as they are primarily created to provide updates between groups. A WhatsApp community only allows the administrator to send messages in the community announcement group for all participants to see.
Members cannot react to the message sent by the community manager, but they can reply to a specific message in private. Also, community members cannot see who else is part of the community.
2nd Privacy
With small adjustments, You can modify the privacy settings of a WhatsApp group. However, there are some settings that you cannot change. For example, when you add people to a WhatsApp group, their contact information is visible to the other members of the group, regardless of whether they are on your contact list or not.
This gives users complete freedom to save contacts and connect with whoever they want in the group. It’s a little worrying that people you don’t know can access your phone number just because you’re part of the same group.
WhatsApp communities are different in that regard. Since communities are created to deliver news or announcements, WhatsApp maintains users’ privacy by not revealing their information to other members.
3º The number of members
In November 2022, WhatsApp changed the number of members that can be added to a group. WhatsApp allows you to add up to 1,024 members in a group. This number was initially 254, rose to 512, and eventually 1,024. This helps WhatsApp businesses and professionals to stay connected.
The WhatsApp community is a directory function, a way to organize groups under one umbrella, allowing you to reach more audiences effectively. The admin can add a total of 50 groups or 5,000 people to the WhatsApp community announcement group.
4º Different characteristics
Los WhatsApp groups allow users to send media like photos, videos and documents, their location and share contacts in the group. They can also forward messages to anyone individually. They also have polls, a rather novel feature.
On the other hand, the features are limited when it comes to WhatsApp communities. Users receive notifications about any alerts or changes within the community. Besides, only admin can share contents like location, media, contact number and documents.
There is no option to create a poll to get feedback from community members. WhatsApp groups allow you to create as many administrators as you want. On the other hand, WhatsApp communities allow users to create a maximum of 20 administrators.
5º Group calls
Groups allow you to make voice and video calls with up to eight members. The conversation is end-to-end encrypted and during the pandemic allowed us to see friends and family.
Users can also send a message and pause the video while on a WhatsApp call. You can minimize the screen and navigate to other apps without disconnecting the call.
Like messages, users cannot make a WhatsApp audio or video call in communities. Since communities are for directing your messages to many people, members do not have the option to call. Imagine the chaos that would cause.
