A new austere update of global messaging platform WhatsApp will increase the power bestowed upon the group administrators, meanwhile reducing the role of the group members to that of mere silent spectators.

The feature came to attention after a user posted on WABetaInfo, in the beta versions of the messaging platform for Android and iOS (2.17.430).

The group admins will be able to activate the functionality though the Restricted Groups setting, according to an Independent report.

If there exist more than one admin then the superior bunch will be able to send the messages on the group while other members will only read them.

The non-admins can send a message to the group?s admins, which if approved, will be then shared on the group.

The admins will be able to change the settings every 72 hours and members can be hopeful that WhatsApp can make the update a tad more flexible when it is officially released.