WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. WhatsApp groups and chats allow admins to have certain privileges like adding or removing participants. This raises the question – can an admin remove another admin from a WhatsApp group? Let’s analyze this in detail.
What are WhatsApp group admins?
On WhatsApp, every group has one or more admins who have control over the group. The first person who creates a WhatsApp group becomes an admin automatically. The admin has the power to:
- Add or remove participants
- Change the group’s icon, name or description
- Demote other admins
- Send messages even if they have been restricted in the group
Being an admin gives a certain level of authority in managing that WhatsApp group. Now the natural question arises – what powers do WhatsApp admins have over fellow admins?
Can an admin remove another admin?
The simple answer is No, an admin cannot directly remove another admin from a WhatsApp group. Every admin in a WhatsApp group has the same level of control. There is no ‘hierarchy’ among the admins.
Even if an admin created the group, they do not have overriding powers to kick out other admins. The WhatsApp group controls are designed in such a way that no single admin has full authority.
Why admins cannot remove other admins
Here are some key reasons why WhatsApp does not allow admins to remove other admins:
- Avoids misuse of admin powers – If admins could remove other admins, this power could be misused by rogue admins to take full control of groups.
- Maintains checks and balances – Having all admins at the same level prevents any one admin from taking over the group.
- Reduces group conflicts – Admins removing each other could lead to internal group conflicts.
- Admin role is earned – Being an admin is not a permanent position, it is earned by the trust of other group members.
By design, WhatsApp aims to maintain democracy and prevent authoritarian control in group chats through this admin limitation.
How can you remove a WhatsApp group admin?
If an admin needs to be removed from the position, there are couple of indirect ways to do so:
1. They can delete their own admin privileges
Any admin can remove their own admin permissions from a WhatsApp group. To do this:
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the Group name to open Group info
- Tap on their own name in the list of participants
- Select ‘Dismiss as admin’ option which will remove their own admin rights
This action demotes them to an ordinary group participant without admin powers.
2. Be removed by other group participants
Other members of the WhatsApp group can remove an existing admin. The steps are:
- Any group member needs to report the problematic admin to other admins
- If majority of admins agree, they can together demote the targeted admin
- For this, each admin needs to go to Group info > Participant’s name > Dismiss as admin
When multiple admins take this action, the targeted admin will lose privileges.
3. Leave and re-join the group
If an admin leaves a WhatsApp group and then rejoins the group later using an invite link, they will join as an ordinary participant without admin rights. This indirect technique can be used to remove administrator privileges.
Pros and cons of admin removal powers
Here are some potential benefits if WhatsApp gave admins the power to remove other admins:
Potential pros
- Easier to deal with rogue/abusive admins
- Hierarchy among admins, clearer leadership structure
- Quick unilateral decisions possible in group management
Potential cons
- Increased risks of group hijacking
- Autocratic control taking over the group
- Admin role would become more political/tactical
- Bad precedent to allow removal of earned admin rights
Looking at the impact, WhatsApp has taken a balanced approach by NOT allowing admins to remove other admins. This maintains a level playing field and shared responsibility among admins.
WhatsApp group rules and norms
While admins cannot remove other admins directly, groups can create their own rules, norms and protocols to manage admins. For example:
- Rules can require inactive admins to step down after a certain time
- Abusive behavior by admins can lead to collective demotion
- Admins can choose to step down voluntarily if they are unable to contribute
- New admins can be added only through unanimous consent of existing admins
WhatsApp groups can create similar rules and obligations for admins to ensure smooth functioning. But the platform maintains the no-removal policy to prevent misuse.
Conclusion
To summarize, on WhatsApp, no single admin has the power to remove or kick out other co-admins from groups. This policy is intentional to maintain checks and balances, prevent misuse, and avoid conflicts. If an existing admin needs to be removed due to inactivity or abuse, group members can collectively dismiss the admin. Alternatively, the problematic admin can delete their own admin rights voluntarily. While WhatsApp does not allow admin removal directly, groups can set their own rules to manage admins effectively.