WhatsApp expands Events feature to include non-users

WhatsApp is launching an expanded Events feature that allows users to invite guests who do not have the messaging application installed. According to Engadget, the update will allow invites to be sent to guests without WhatsApp accounts, enabling those individuals to see event details and RSVP without needing to create an account or use the app.

New Event Management Tools

Users can manage their scheduling through a new hub called the Events Home, which can be found by navigating to the Events section of the WhatsApp settings menu. According to WhatsApp, this hub allows users to:

• View a complete list of all past and upcoming plans.
• Create and send new invites.
• Manage RSVPs.
• Send custom reminders to guests.
• Include an option for guests to add a plus-one.

Events can be personalized with a header photo. For those receiving invites via a shared link, the app provides specific privacy protections. WhatsApp notes that a host's phone number will not be shown to guests they do not know. Additionally, guests without a WhatsApp account will not be able to see the event address until they have submitted an RSVP.

Rollout and Competitive Context

The new feature is expected to roll out to all WhatsApp users "over the following weeks," according to Engadget.

This expansion follows several recent updates to the platform designed to connect users with people outside of the existing WhatsApp network. Last month, the company introduced an option for individuals without WhatsApp accounts to join video calls. Furthermore, the biggest change WhatsApp made this year was the addition of usernames, which allows people to use the service without sharing their phone numbers.

Industry analysts suggest these moves position WhatsApp to compete with other event-planning services. Engadget reports that widening the audience for these tools feels like a move for WhatsApp to compete with services like Partiful. The Verge notes that while platforms like Partiful and Apple Invites can send invites to anyone, not all event-planners have an iPhone or want to download a new app, potentially making WhatsApp a viable alternative to platforms like Facebook.

Why it matters

By allowing non-users to interact with event details and RSVPs via a link, WhatsApp is reducing the friction required for people outside its ecosystem to participate in user-organized social gatherings.

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Sources

• engadget.com: WhatsApp Is Taking On Partiful With Expanded Events Feature
• theverge.com: WhatsApp will let you invite friends to events who aren’t on the app | The Verge

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.