# Mobile Messenger Updates Google Added Two New Features to its Messages Texting Application By Colin Smith | Published 2022-10-21 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-messages References: [theverge](https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/20/23412546/google-messages-apple-rcs-replies-stars) & [messages.google](https://messages.google.com/)  The '[Google](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emoji-reactions) Messages' application has been updated with two new major features for Android mobile phone users. Firstly, Google enabled the ability to reply to individual messages through its texting application. This functions similar to [WhatsApp](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chat-filters) or Meta Messenger, where a user can select a single text to highlight while writing a reply. This helps with communicative clarity by specifically showing the other texter which message is being addressed. The second major update is the ability for users to mark texts as important for later. This is performed by clicking a star-shaped icon in the corner of any given text bubble. Essentially, the star feature behaves similarly to Google's star feature on Gmail. Starred text messages can be searched independent of non-starred ones, allowing for improved organization of important interactions. Image Credit: Google ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 13% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Individual Message Replies:** The ability to reply to individual messages within a thread presents an opportunity for messaging apps to improve communicative clarity. - **Marking Messages as Important:** Introducing the ability to mark messages as important for later allows messaging apps to better facilitate organization of important interactions. - **Improved Messaging Organization:** Messaging apps that offer features to improve message organization are likely to disrupt the industry and gain traction with users seeking greater communication efficiency. ### Where This Applies - **Mobile Messaging:** The mobile messaging industry stands to gain from introducing new features such as individual message replies and marking messages as important for later. - **Email:** Email applications could consider adopting features such as individual message replies and marking messages as important for later to improve organization and efficiency for users. - **Project Management:** The ability to mark messages as important for later presents an opportunity for project management software to help teams collaborate and keep track of important information. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cross-Platform Mobile Emojis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emoji-reactions.md) - [Silent Messaging Applications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silent-message.md) - [Video-Editing App Updates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-photos-2.md) - [Non-Disruptive Digital Meeting Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-meet-2.md) - [Messaging App Chat Organization](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chat-filters.md) - [Disappearing Chat Platform Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keep-in-chat.md) - [Feature-Enabled Messenger Applications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/featureenabled-messenger.md) - [Search-Enhancing Drawing Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-8.md) - [Privacy-Focused Messenger Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chat-lock.md)