How can you message on WhatsApp - briefly?
To send a message on WhatsApp, first open the chat with the recipient. Then, type your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen and press the send button.
How can you message on WhatsApp - in detail?
To effectively message on WhatsApp, follow these detailed steps:
- Installation and Setup: First, ensure that WhatsApp is installed on your device. You can download it from the official website or app store. After installation, open the app and enter your phone number to receive an SMS verification code. Once verified, you can set up your profile with a display picture and status.
- Creating a New Message: To send a message, tap on the 'New Chat' icon (usually represented by a pencil or paperclip) at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will open a list of your contacts. If you want to start a new chat with someone who is not in your contact list, type their phone number in the search bar at the top.
- Selecting a Contact: Choose the contact you wish to message from the list. You can also select multiple contacts for a group message by tapping on the 'New Group' icon (a group of people) next to each contact’s name.
-
Composing Your Message: Once in the chat window, type your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen. WhatsApp offers various features to enhance your messages:
- Text Formatting: You can make your text bold, italic, or strikethrough by adding certain symbols around the words (e.g., italic, underline, ~strikethrough~).
- Media Attachments: Tap on the paperclip icon to attach documents, images, videos, GIFs, voice notes, and location information. You can also send contacts directly from your phonebook.
- Emojis and Stickers: Use the emoji or sticker icons to add visual expressions to your messages. WhatsApp provides a wide range of both.
- Sending Your Message: After composing your message, tap on the send button (a paper airplane icon) to deliver it. If you change your mind before sending, you can delete the text by tapping on the trash can icon next to the text box.
-
Message Status Indicators: Once sent, WhatsApp provides status indicators:
- A single check mark means the message has been sent but not yet delivered.
- Two check marks indicate that the message has been successfully delivered.
- If you see two blue check marks, it confirms that the recipient has read your message. Note that read receipts can be turned off in privacy settings if desired.
- Message Reactions and Forwarding: Recipients can react to your messages with emojis or forward them to other contacts. They also have the option to reply, quote a specific message, or use the 'Forward' button for quick sharing.
-
Advanced Features: WhatsApp offers additional features such as:
- Voice and Video Calls: Tap on the call icon (a phone receiver) to initiate a voice or video call with your contact.
- Status Updates: Share updates, photos, or videos to your status that will be visible to your contacts for 24 hours.
- Groups: Create groups for family, friends, or work colleagues by tapping on the 'New Group' icon and adding participants. Groups can include up to 512 members.
- Broadcast Lists: Send messages to multiple contacts at once without creating a group chat. Tap on 'Broadcast lists' in the chats menu to set this up.
- Privacy Settings: Customize your privacy settings by going to ‘Settings’ > ‘Account’ > ‘Privacy’. Here, you can control who can see your profile picture, status, and read receipts, as well as block specific contacts if needed.
By following these steps, you can effectively communicate with friends, family, and colleagues using WhatsApp's versatile messaging features.