WhatsApp Can Now Hide Your ‘Last Seen’ Status from Strangers by Default

WhatsApp Can Now Hide Your ‘Last Seen’ Status from Strangers by Default. WhatsApp is rolling out a new privacy measure that lets you hide your “last seen” status from people you don’t know or haven’t chatted with in the app (via WABetaInfo).

WhatsApp Can Now Hide Your ‘Last Seen’ Status from Strangers by Default

Previously, WhatsApp set the feature on “Everyone” by default, allowing anyone on WhatsApp to see your status. WhatsApp’s new update limits the visibility of your status to the people you’ve added to the platform, and sets the feature to “My Contacts” by default instead. The tweet is as follows;

It’s a new security feature. Got this reply from support today. If the person has not got your number in their contacts, or you haven’t sent one message between you, last seen/online is no longer visible. pic.twitter.com/qLPtC6rPOAm

— PsyColette (@NiHaolain) December 7, 2021

WhatsApp Can Now Hide Your ‘Last Seen’ Status from Strangers by Default

The verge noted that in a post on Twitter, a user explains that you may not be able to see other people’s statuses on the platform anymore, and also includes an email from what appears to be WhatsApp support that describes the new feature.

“We’re making it harder for people you don’t know and haven’t chatted with from seeing your last seen and online presence on WhatsApp,” the email reads.

The “My Contacts” option for your “last seen” status was already available, but it’s never been the default on the app. It’s also worth noting that WhatsApp already has a “Nobody” option as well, preventing all users from seeing your status.

Your status on WhatsApp lets other contacts know when you were online last, or if you’re currently using the app. While this may seem like a harmless way to keep track of your friends and family (and vice versa), WABetaInfo points out that some third-party apps actually exploit this feature.

WhatsApp Has Been Working to Bolster User Privacy

These apps can aggregate the statuses of certain users, which may enable some to keep a little too close of an eye on others using the platform.

Turning on the “My Contacts” options prevents third-party apps from logging your online status, as an app isn’t considered one of your contacts, and therefore, it won’t be able to see your status.

This isn’t the only change WhatsApp is making to its “last seen” status. In November, WABetaInfo found that the messaging app began testing an option, called “My Contacts Except.

It allows users to hide their status from certain contacts. WhatsApp has also been working to bolster user privacy by introducing an option to make its disappearing messaging feature the default.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a free, multiplatform messaging app that lets you make video and voice calls, send text messages, and more all with just a Wi-Fi connection.

With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is especially popular among friends and family who live in different countries and want to stay in touch.

WhatsApp has quickly emerged as the go-to messaging app for over 1.6 billion consumers around the globe.

It’s a fast, simple, and convenient way for family and friends to chat, create group texts, share photos and videos, send and receive documents, and engage in private, secure conversations anytime, day or night.

WhatsApp Status

The WhatsApp status allows you to share text, photo, video, and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours, and that is also end-to-end encrypted.

In order to send and receive status updates to and from your contacts, you and your contacts must have each other’s phone numbers saved in your phones’ address books.

Your status updates can only be seen by someone if you have their phone number in your phone’s address book and they have your phone number in their phone’s address book. You can choose to share your status updates with all your contacts or selected contacts only.

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