KaKao

- Latest update (v10.3.0) includes experimental 'Silent Chatroom' function.

- A tool for managing inactive chatrooms.

- Update follows 'Leave Silently' feature, with plans for ongoing functionality enhancements.

 

[August 2, 2023] Kakao (CEO Hong Eun-taek) introduced the 'Silent Chat Room' feature in its latest update (v10.3.0) of KakaoTalk. 

 

This feature, now part of the app's Labs section, allows users to archive and hide inactive 1:1 and group chat rooms without exiting them. Once archived, these chat rooms will not send notifications and won't be counted in the KakaoTalk app’s badge count.

 

KakaoTalk users who have updated to the latest version can activate the 'Silent Chat Room' feature within the KakaoTalk Labs. By long-pressing or swiping a chat room and selecting 'Archive,' the chat room moves to the archive section. This archive is displayed at the top of the chat tab, and the archived chat rooms automatically have their notifications turned off.

 

Messages in these 'Archived Chat Rooms' are shown as grey numbers in the archive but do not contribute to the overall badge count of KakaoTalk. This feature is anticipated to reduce the stress of users who faced inconvenience due to increasing badge counts during holidays or were overwhelmed by notifications from inactive chat rooms.

 

Furthermore, this update has officially incorporated the 'Leave Silently' feature, which received significant attention, with around 2 million activations within three weeks of its experimental introduction in May. After approximately three months of evaluating its stability, Kakao has now officially integrated it into this update.

 

The 'Silent Chat Rooms' and 'Leave Silently' features are part of the 'KaTalkEasy' project, focusing on reducing conversation stress and enhancing convenience in everyday life. Kakao plans to continue introducing new features and improving existing ones to lessen user stress.

 

Yang Ju-Il, Head of the KakaoTalk Division, stated, “In response to the growing volume and complexity of user interactions, we are actively evolving and expanding our feature set. Our goal is to continuously integrate user feedback, applying diverse enhancements to elevate our service quality.”

 

Kakao aims to make communication more accessible and secure, bridging the gap between people and between individuals and technology. This includes ongoing adaptations and enhancements based on user input.

 

Key updates include the 'Accept/Decline Chatroom Invite from Unknown Friend' feature, improvements to the usability of 'Scheduled Messages' by removing reservation badges, and the 'Talk Siren' feature for user safety. Moreover, the 'KakaoTalk Manual' page, launched in April, provides detailed guidance on the various functionalities of KakaoTalk and their configuration methods. (End)