Google Chat groups are about to get even more complex
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Google Workspace has teased new features for its Chat platform in an effort to make it even more collaborative, but it can get confusing for some users.
Company announced (opens in new tab) the updates at the Google Cloud Next ’22 event, introducing chat and subthread layers, which can complicate things for non-IT savvy employees.
Previously, Google Chat rooms could accommodate up to 400 members, rendering the platform useless for large-scale messaging for large organizations. This has now been increased 20 times to a maximum of 8,000, which the company hopes will increase the app’s appeal.
Google Chat Update
However, anyone familiar with the Slack interface will already understand the addition of threads and responding to individual posts in a space, which Google says is “smaller groups of people.” [to] continue a conversation on a particular topic.”
The overdue feature is designed for ease of use, with indicators such as notification badges and direct “@” mentions, but some users may still find it difficult to track notifications from across the platform, which are not housed in one central location.
We’re already familiar with Google’s version of chat groups, Spaces, which is organized by topic. That format will be supported until early 2023, after which the thread-based system will become the only option for newly created Spaces.
Existing Spaces on the now “old” design aren’t affected, though, so if users would rather stop the “snagging” of Google’s online collaboration tool, they’ll have to create your spaces before the thread takes over.
The feature has already been rolled out to all Google Workspace customers, including older G Suite Basic and Business plans, and is also available to personal Google account holders.