Messaging platform WhatsApp has announced three new privacy features that will give more control over conversations to users. Here’s all you need to know.
What are the new WhatsApp features?
The features include the ability to hide your ‘Online’ status indicator, exit WhatsApp groups silently without notifying members, and also block screenshots for certain messages. The features will roll out soon for all users.
“New privacy features coming to WhatsApp: exit group chats without notifying everyone, control who can see when you’re online, and prevent screenshots on view once messages. We’ll keep building new ways to protect your messages and keep them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Founder, and CEO of Meta.
Details of the new WhatsApp features
1. Choose who can see when you’re ‘Online’
WhatsApp will let users choose who they want to share their ‘Online’ status indicator with. This will enable the users to keep their online presence private. Moreover, it will allow the users to check their WhatsApp privately while staying connected to their friends and family. This feature will roll out this month. Reportedly, the users can regulate the visibility of their Online status between all users, contacts only, and nobody.
2. Leave WhatsApp groups silently
WhatsApp will soon also let all users exit any group without notifying anyone. This feature can actually save you from the awkwardness of leaving a group that you have been a part of for a very long time. But wait, you cannot escape the admins. Users still cannot leave a group without the admins finding out about it. WhatsApp has said that the feature will start rolling out to all users this month.
3. Screenshot blocking for ‘View Once’ messages
View Once messages that allow users to share photos or media without a permanent digital record, will now have another layer of protection. The new feature is a great addition to the ‘View Once’ feature. It will allow the users to block the receiver from taking a screenshot of the view once photo. WhatsApp says the feature is being tested and will be released to users soon.
We are focused on building products that empower people: WhatsApp
Ami Vora, Head of Product at WhatsApp, said, “At WhatsApp, we’re focused on building product features that empower people to have more control and privacy over their messages. Over the years, we’ve added interlocking layers of protection to help keep their conversations secure. The new features are one way we continue to deliver on our commitment to keeping messages private. No other global messaging service at this scale provides this level of security for their users’ messages, media, voice messages, video calls, and chat backups.”