WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature called “group member tags” (or role tags) in its Android beta version (v2.25.35.6). The idea: each participant in a group chat can assign themselves a custom tag (up to 30 characters) that appears next to their name within that specific group.
Tags might read “Project Manager”, “Coach”, or “Moderator”—they’re set by the users themselves (not only admins) and only apply within that group; they don’t carry over into other chats.
How It Works: Steps for Users
Here’s how you can use the feature once you have it:
- Make sure you have the latest WhatsApp beta for Android (v2.25.35.6) or wait for the full rollout.
- Open the desired group chat.
- Tap on the group name → go to the “Participants” or “Group Info” screen.
- Tap your own name → you’ll see an option to add/edit a tag (up to 30 characters, no special characters/links).
- Enter your tag and save it. It becomes visible to all group members — next to your name in the participant list and within message bubbles in some views.
Because the tag is group‐specific, you can use different tags for different groups depending on your role there.
Why This Matters: Benefits for Communication & Groups
The arrival of group role tags brings several meaningful improvements for group chat dynamics:
- Clear role identification: In large groups or work teams, seeing a tag like “Event Coordinator” or “Designer” helps you know who to ask for what.
- Better onboarding for new members: When someone joins a group later, they can immediately gauge who does what and where resources lie.
- Organisation & context: Especially in structured settings (corporate teams, volunteer groups, sports clubs), this adds a layer of clarity that simple names alone may not provide.
- Personalisation & flexibility: Unlike fixed admin labels, any member can choose their tag and change it when needed — reflecting evolving roles.
- Privacy & group-specific context: The tags don’t carry across groups, so you’re not forced into a single public identity across all your chats.
Availability & Rollout: What You Need to Know
- The feature is currently available in beta for Android users (version 2.25.35.6).
- There’s no official full-release date yet; testers will see gradual rollout and wider availability will follow.
- iOS, Web/desktop versions haven’t been confirmed yet for this tag feature — Android goes first.
- Because it’s a group-specific tag, switching devices or reinstalling WhatsApp still preserves your tag (with the same account) in that group.
What To Watch Out For / Potential Limitations
- Since it’s beta, you may experience glitches or delays in rollout.
- Tags are limited to 30 characters and cannot include special characters/links. Gadgets 360
- If you belong to many groups and switch devices/account, managing different tags across groups might become tedious.
- While helpful, tags aren’t enforced by admins—so some group members may not use them or may choose ambiguous ones.
- Presently tied to Android; iOS and other platforms may lag behind.
Why This Feature is Relevant for India & Local Users
Given that India is one of the largest user‐bases of WhatsApp, the introduction of group role tags has strong implications for Indian users and groups:
- Many Indian groups (school/tuition groups, neighbourhood WhatsApp groups, hobby clubs, office teams) benefit from better role clarity.
- Users in India often participate in multiple groups (family, work, communities). Being able to set unique tags per group helps keep roles clear across contexts.
- The rollout in India might depend on Android availability, but once live, users in Indian cities like Jaipur (your area) can update and enable the feature quickly.
- It could help in informal Indian work-group dynamics (project coordination, volunteer groups) where identifying roles is often ambiguous.
Final Take
With the addition of group role tags, WhatsApp is raising the bar for group chat organisation and clarity. Whether you’re coordinating events, managing a volunteer team, or simply hanging out in an interest-group, being able to display your role at a glance makes interactions smoother and more purposeful. If you’re on Android, keep an eye out for the update (v2.25.35.6) and start using tags to make your group chats more meaningful.
