Hi Pat,
It sounds like there might have been some changes in the group settings or the way members' names are displayed. The behavior you described could be due to a few reasons:
Privacy Settings: WhatsApp offers different privacy settings that allow users to control who can see their information. It's possible that some members have adjusted their settings to show their names to only certain people.
Group Settings: Group admins have the ability to modify certain group settings, including who can see member information. They might have changed these settings, which could explain the differences you're observing.
Device Change: Transitioning from one device to another could sometimes lead to changes in how WhatsApp functions. However, it's unlikely that the change in device alone would cause the specific issue you're experiencing.
App Version: If you updated WhatsApp or if your old Galaxy S6 was running a different version of the app, this could impact how member names are displayed.
Regarding your question about admins preventing the display of members' names, as of my last update in September 2021, WhatsApp doesn't have a built-in feature to completely hide all members' names in a group. However, admins do have control over various aspects of a group, so they might influence how names are displayed to some extent.
To get a better understanding of what's happening, you could try checking the group settings (if you have access to them) and comparing the settings on your A70 with your previous device. You might also want to reach out to WhatsApp support or seek assistance from other members of the group who might be more familiar with the app's recent updates.
I hope this helps shed some light on the situation! If you need further assistance, feel free to ask.