The more the merrier. The phrase is exceptionally true on online group chats.
This is why Signal, the privacy-oriented messaging app, once advocated by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, is announcing a way for its users to invite others to group chats through what it calls the 'group links'.
This follows Signal that previously added some features to group chats.
According to Signal in its announcement:
"Today we’re adding one more feature into the mix: group links, which let you quickly create a link that anyone can follow to join your group. Like our other new group features, you can create a new group to try it out now, but these features will be coming soon to your existing Signal groups."
This is how it works:
Admins of a Signal group chat can enable the group’s link feature from the group details screen.
When it is enabled, anyone who follows the link can join the chat group. Members of the chat group can easily share the group links to another Signal chat, or even to other apps. They can also generate a printable QR code that when scanned, will allow others to follow the group’s link.
This feature should be useful, like when admins create groups for those with common interests, like sports team or study groups, for example.
Admins that are organizer of an event, can also share the group link on social media networks to quickly get interested people into the group.
Another use case, is when a group of people wants to move a group chat on a service they have been engaging with, to Signal.
By sharing the group links, it will be easier for the admins to get people into the group without having to invite them one by one.
And building on the previous group feature Signal introduced, admins of group chats can turn off their group's link at any time, or reset the link if they want to change it.
For extra controls, group chats can be set so anyone joining through group links require admin approval before being accepted.
Just like how Signal has no access to users' group memberships, titles, avatars, or attributes, the Signal also can’t access users group links. The information needed to join the group is embedded into the link itself, and only a group’s members can access the link, and not Signal.
Being an end-to-end encrypted messaging app, group chats or Signal are also encrypted.
Signal has launched the group links feature to New Groups, and according to its support page, it isn't available on Legacy Groups.
"We’ll be bringing group links along with our other new groups features to your existing Signal groups soon. We hope group links give you a number of new ways to organize your connections or even make new ones on Signal."