[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: WhatsApp: Stay Connected with the World’s Favorite Messaging App
HANNING Darci * SLO
darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov
Wed Jan 8 11:19:43 PST 2025
Welcome to the latest issue of Tech-Talk!
Having trouble reading this email?
You can view the tech tip<https://www.tech-talk.com/whatsapp-stay-connected-with-this-no-cost-mobile-app.html> and the communication tip<https://www.tech-talk.com/judgmental-or-analytical-communications.html> online instead at:
https://www.tech-talk.com/login/oregon
When prompted for a username and password, use ORLIBTECH for both.
Tech-Talk is a paid subscription service for staff of Oregon libraries and is supported in whole by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by the State Library of Oregon.
What you need to know about WhatsApp
[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/34916cb2-412f-43fa-8294-1f7ecb0e9a3d.png]
[A team of sled dogs runs across a snowy landscape under vibrant northern lights, with a button that says "View the Tech Tip Video Here.]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypfoF7R-JdRBMgWuqMNcXw_XdmEb3briOiVMxcljP5KwY3FOf5i-8ALxJG8XSfgkWZZmCEROXrYpaIaJXMs7m4T-pSwQjTlxAZpKfzhnsFvvgbl7Ch49MqxJoooUxcjHXcXBev7T619opaqJMa_hTCqxf1zbRLj5ep79-D5n2E9OqzIM04tH_CccF47hpXHVwOw==&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
Photo by Thomas Lipke<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypc90b5r6kqRNJsyyob_LuXI42yseAuGqV3Ru-g9WeqYALrRTKEeClvq3m6Hdz8rplqLnqY9py2FibFGWRkiVvtnl4wmLAfrQcpYYTqEgSqAHOy2-biSLQCwDGY4N9L2tWBgzACNzDEfeLGffOifpKsEDTqzgIY8ttLltnOMEU3E-reKeL7VfBADZTCWkeqfosdXf8g4a-7b61srvWNYu6lM=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==> on Unsplash<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypfoF7R-JdRBMr_ut7GEjYc401mQzuAip5U9wEq02X99x51dIj9UGs2JX5ktz9aOu-tf9NxFvisyYQrcGL7NS6RT2qZtgdQf604m-kdIFUaaNBd0bxnQ2tQrpO9HImQT6kx17WMuWE6eiDpFO7O4gXsCz6NGJklpUiMD5sFIABLSPISwYlUlC_WvA1YQ-tW38mL0zN9BKzwyv8AjF7vUi3P-PQ5vXQzWcxbMrhHAiSJ56kepnYMQ3pCfcd_y5MaUG5Q==&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e25f6bcf-26a8-4e59-91f2-cc248962042d.png]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypcjsc9VA1Ea56baeqvpFzSHz8PDiIOrXhWnVB9-A9SQBpdY5jAave0Z0-AGyO7TPAz_mCxPKDPZgonJbQLWC7__aDuuddwt0rZZyc3ONKCzx&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
Webinars for You
NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.
Jan 8: [MOBILE] WhatsApp: Stay Connected with This NO-Cost Mobile App. Why attend? Learn how this app can be a communications tool.
Jan 22: [EXCEL/G-Sheets] 9 Powerful Chart Types to Tell Your Story. Why Attend? You want to spruce up your spreadsheet data with visuals.
Feb 12: [INTERNET] Simple Steps for Password Protection & Authentication Why attend? Learn more ways to protect your accounts.
Feb 26: [DESKTOP] 15 Productivity and Creativity Boosters: Tips, Techniques, and Tools Why attend? Learn shortcuts to save time.
View Webinars and Register Here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypenwvK6bldUfi6pLZ8i1KBx1xaMMgrNek-e-y2fbfg3MjAnZd16Y3XIQ52EWoyvymhopa_YlZY9lvy-1S2pSwRBLOwchm9QVkJi_mZugR1zc0yhIXhjJmhQ=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
MOBILE - WhatsApp: Stay Connected with the World’s Favorite Messaging App
Novice
When I was in college I would call my folks every Sunday night. Depending on how old you are, you may remember the days of waiting until the evening when the rates were lower to make "long distance" calls.
[Hands holding a smartphone with the WhatsApp logo on the screen, next to an open laptop.]
With mobile phone plans (instead of using a landline), we don't typically pay higher rates for calling within the US. However, there are additional costs when calling Internationally.
So, WhatsApp was developed so that you can bypass your mobile device's calling plan and use cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection to make unlimited phone calls and texts around the world with other WhatsApp users. Typically there are no additional fees (unless you have limited data or roaming charges).
Now, if you have a friend in another country, a sibling in the armed forces stationed overseas, or a sister organization in a foreign nation you can communicate with ease ... and for free!
While WhatsApp is still gaining popularity in the U.S., it has exploded in use in other countries with over 2.7 Billion active users internationally. This makes it the most used messaging platform worldwide – with almost triple the users as Facebook Messenger.
[Bar chart comparing messaging app users: WhatsApp 2700M, WeChat 1293M, Facebook Messenger 930M, Telegram 700M, Snapchat 560M.]
More and more people are discovering it in the U.S., so let's take a look at this well-loved app.
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is free, cross-platform app you can download to your mobile phone, tablet or even use through a browser on your laptop or desktop computer.
· It provides text messaging, calling, and video chats. (Using voice-over-IP technology)
· Users can share multimedia like photos, videos, and documents.
· It supports individual and group chats, business messaging, and more.
· And it is available on smartphones, tablets, and computers, making it a versatile and globally popular platform.
WhatsApp's popularity is due to several factors:
· Cost - It is free to use, while SMS texting and International calling can be expensive in some countries.
· Ease of Use - It's a very simple platform with little learning curve.
· Multimedia - WhatsApp allows users to not only make voice and video calls, but send photos and documents.
· Ad-free - There are no annoying ads and pop-ups!
[Person holding phone with WhatsApp logo on screen; text: "WEBINAR - WhatsApp: Stay Connected with This No-Cost Mobile App," Tech-Talk logo.]
See a Live Demonstration of WhatsApp in this Webinar
Wednesday, January 8th
2 pm (ET)/11 am (PT) (NEW time!)
Register Here
Getting Started
NOTE: WhatsApp uses your cellular service or a Wi-Fi connection so you must be digitally connected in some way. And you can only call or text other WhatsApp users within the platform.
[WhatsApp download options for Android, iOS, and Windows devices with app store icons.]
· First, download the app for Android on Google Play and on Apple in the App store. Or to use on a desktop, go to this page, Whatsapp.com/download<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypfBtLCw-deCv1UUyf5Ig6PxTvhR9Ddkf1bFQVdcKvTxQINEI9XKnmCRMI6ycAeLcS82TJX4WERFryZKugbMypMEw4cu67fLHmCwB2uIM4HFvlqWaR6iOdKY=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
· Walk through the prompts to enter your country and phone number. Your phone number IS your account number.
· Activate via a 6-digit code and pin.
· Add your name and image to your profile.
· Decide what level of access you want to give WhatsApp to your Contacts. TIP: You can let the app view all your contacts and it will tell you which people already use WhatsApp. Or, when making calls/texts, you can add new contacts one at a time.
Definitions
[A group chat discussing teaching schedules, with messages of celebration and a sticker saying "That's Amazing!.]
First, let's define a few terms so that you have an understanding of how they differ from other similar apps.
WhatsApp Groups - A group allows users to chat with multiple people simultaneously. It's similar to a group chat room where users can share messages, photos, and more in one place.
· Groups are good for connecting with friends and family.
· As of November 2022, Groups can contain up to 1024 people (this figure was initially 254, but has increased).
Communities - A community is a unified space that can contain multiple groups, each with its own topics or interests. Anyone can create one.
[Illustration of diverse cartoon faces with a green WhatsApp logo in the center.]
· Communities are good for connecting with schools, neighborhoods, organizations, and more.
· They consist of admins and group members. Admins can create a community with up to 50 groups with up to 5,000 members.
· Admins can reach members with important updates by sending announcements.
· Community members can stay connected by exploring and chatting in groups. As part of a group inside a community, members can reply to community announcements, create events, share polls and files, and react to messages.
· If you're interested in setting up a Community, here's a great article<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypfoF7R-JdRBMM-4RXR2GwsjbAQKMhQSVo9ZCQSKjHj8CeDs01pWga9sej40jqdU2vp69jbh7GS3aF19GJwIL5wHJqYw7RbjQpbO6rb0NzfTRnbDQzADuDMSIbkZzvgXD8YTbMSAY2WyfzZ9dG1uqcAGc0WCMCbsDVCrKac-QSJ4ghZNmAM8M3kw=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==> on creating and maintaining one.
Using the App
When you open WhatsApp, the navigation is at the bottom of the screen.
Settings
[Icons for Updates, Calls, Communities, Chats, and a highlighted Settings gear symbol in a user interface.]
Once you've added the app, head on over to Settings to complete your profile and make some changes.
· Profile Name – Update and add About info. Add an Avatar picture if you want.
· Privacy - By default, WhatsApp sets your privacy settings so that any user can see your profile photo, read receipts, and view when you're online. You'll probably want to change your privacy settings to control who can see your information and contact you. For example, you can:
· Adjust your last seen and online status.
· Turn off location sharing to prevent others from knowing where you are.
· Under Calls, silence unknown callers.
· Turn off read receipts.
· Notifications - To manage your notification settings for all messages and calls, or customize individual or group chat notifications, go to your phone's Settings and look for: Notifications, Apps, WhatsApp and turn on or off Show notifications.
Chats
Using Chat is very similar to your mobile device's texting options.
Tap on the Chat icon in the bottom navigation. Here you'll see a scrolling history of prior chat conversations.
[Icons for Updates, Calls, Communities, Chats (highlighted), and Settings on a user interface.]
[Chat screen showing a list of conversations with icons for creating a new chat and searching. Conversations are categorized into tabs.]
To start a NEW Chat:
· Tap the green + button in the upper right corner.
· Here you can create a new Group, Community or new Contact. Adding a new contact that does not have WhatsApp will send them an invite to join via your phone's text message app.
· If the Contact is in your list, type the first few characters of their name to bring it up.
· In the Chat window, you can type in a text message and/or press the plus sign to send a picture or video from your library, your location, a document, poll and more.
[Messenger app with a plus sign, Photos, Camera, Location, Contact, Document, Poll, and Imagine options displayed as icons.]
· Use the camera icon to take a new picture or video to include.
· For a quick voice message, hold down the microphone icon, speak your message, and then release to send it. TIP: As soon as you release, it does SEND right away!
Voice and Video Calling
While you are in a chat message, you can initiate a voice or video call from that screen. Inside the chat stream, tap the video camera or phone icon to dial.
[App menu bar with icons for Updates, Calls (highlighted), Communities, Chats, and Settings.]
[Contact page showing John with options for video call or phone call, highlighted by a red arrow. "Cancel" and "Search" options appear above.]
For more calling options, tap the Calls icon in the bottom navigation bar.
· Select a contact from your list, add a new one or use the search bar to find the person from your list of contacts.
· To make a voice-only call, tap the Phone icon. For a video call, tap the video button.
Make a Group VOICE or VIDEO Call from a Chat (easiest way)
You can add up to 32 people (including yourself) to a group voice or video call.
Make a group voice or video call from a Group Chat:
· Open the group chat you want to voice call.
· At the top, tap either the Video or Call icon.
· Where the group name appears, you can tap it to select specific members or choose the button to choose all.
· Remember, only 32 people can be selected.
NOTE: Only group members can participate in group calls.
Make a Group VOICE or VIDEO Call from the Call Tab
The other way to start a group voice or video call on WhatsApp is to start out calling one person, then add other people into your call.
· Tap Calls in the lower navigation.
· Then tap the plus (+) sign at the top.
· Tap the name of the first contact you want to call, then tap the video camera to start a video call, or the phone icon to start a voice call.
· Once they answer, tap the arrow to reveal a menu of options, and select Add Person.
· Select a contact you want to add to your call, then tap Add.
· Repeat this process to add everyone you want to include in your group call. Again, you can have up to 32 people in a group voice or video call.
[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e565d7d1-215e-487a-8e78-f332113e7825.jpg]
Communications: Talking
Judgmental or analytical communications
A number of years ago, someone said to me, "You’re judgmental."
That had me thinking. Was I? Or was I a discerning individual. I thought I was observant and analyzing.
Of course, sharing my thoughts about what I noticed could be taken as judgmental, I guess ... rather than as sharing an observation.
However, it seems to me that if I didn't add a negative aspect to my thoughts, it shouldn't fall into that category. But is that enough?
For instance, when you say comments like this (thinking they are factual)...
· "They're always late."
· "She's slow in making calls."
· "They're smart in how they handled the issue."
... they come across as judgmental and harsh, even if you use a positive tone.
However, if you can continue with what you're thinking, and say it out loud, it can add the perspective that makes the statement more helpful and less judgmental.
For example ... with my unspoken thoughts:
· They're always late. (I wonder if there is a transportation issue.)
· She's slow in making calls. (She takes her time to prepare.)
· They're smart in how they handled the issue. (I'm glad they're on my team.)
Stating the facts and drawing a conclusion as to their meaning, could be considered judgmental or analytical. It's how we communicate ... and how fully we share our thoughts behind our observation ... determines if the message is perceived as judgmental or analytical.
[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/b13a7a6a-7445-4d8e-b741-4b475385ef5b.png]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypTzAFCLnQS_4qvpp62JHkw3_4JUNkOtCIB5WSqBU_GdSKqHSLtFekV4VTzeEmL1c9QbLlEtmeBhrasWNHejVU-PJ92Gyqj41X2FyrmuJiRUi_jaojksfXfc=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
[Ask a question]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nQYBnESBYSdGUR9xigb95tYXfdReMp76wDBXU7k-ra7-4Vz5geqypcj6PUtsNec9cuLeJPKvz0cpr8dDBIH_Y_t3AhDrs8GDQrR7EFwnMyABvKraJoMXc9ltaIAxawJSrtRVP5pvqWGAxTlMi5dwI70R_o2gFKWdTN2D6o74f7A=&c=gwtys8o5xhh-u4ZglvpBDBx57bD_g6lseW9J8IUrodhU6xWzyVpDMg==&ch=5OsYyxIhlADlJz035A4_lN5X-59ag3xHxoElRTrQVyoG7ukFoBihsw==>
Copyright 1996-2025 Shared Results International. Published weekly. Distribution is limited by license. For information on how to include additional recipients, contact support at tech-talk.com<mailto:support at tech-talk.com> 585-615-7795.
Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/conted
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
[State Library of Oregon (Logo)]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20250108/ff0bbdcc/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 15548 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20250108/ff0bbdcc/attachment.png>
More information about the Libs-Or
mailing list