KakaoTalk Updates Nearby Friend Invitation Feature
Create Chat Rooms Using Only a 'Code' Without Adding Friends
Useful for One-Time Meetings Like Group Projects
KakaoTalk is adding a feature that allows users to create chat rooms and chat using only a 'code' without 'adding friends.' By adding a feature that enables group chat rooms to be created simply by being nearby, the hassle of having to exchange phone numbers one by one is expected to disappear.
According to the ICT industry on the 13th, Kakao carried out a regular KakaoTalk update with these details on the 12th. Kakao newly introduced the 'Invite Nearby Friends' feature, which allows users to immediately create chat rooms and chat with nearby users at various events such as seminars and clubs they attend for the first time. Using the Invite Nearby Friends feature, users can instantly create a 'team chat' with people within a 1 km radius.
The Invite Nearby Friends feature is characterized by enabling quick conversations without the procedure of adding friends by sharing phone numbers or Kakao IDs. When a user activates the feature, an entry code for the chat room is generated, and those wishing to join can verbally receive the entry code from the host and enter it to participate in the chat. This feature can be activated simultaneously when creating a team chat in the chat tab, and even already created team chats can use the feature if the latest version of KakaoTalk is used.
Accordingly, the inconvenience of having a significantly increased KakaoTalk friend list even for one-time meetings is expected to decrease. One netizen commented, "Every time we do group projects, I end up adding friends, so my friend list is full of people I don't know," adding, "This new feature seems like it will make friend management easier."
Meanwhile, Kakao is making efforts to simplify friend management. In March, it added a 'Memo' feature to friend profiles that only the user can see. In the memo, users can leave notes to remember the other person, such as 'Philosophy Department, Class of 2024' or 'Client Deputy.' Deleting friends from profiles has also become easier. Previously, to delete a friend, users had to block them first and then delete them from the block tab. Now, by long-pressing a friend’s profile, the delete menu appears immediately alongside hide and block options, allowing for quick deletion.
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