WhatsApp users have long been concerned about their online behavior being marketed to other WhatsApp users without their permission. Meta appears to have listened to your concerns and modified its privacy settings accordingly.
Starting in August 2022, you won't have to sneak out of a WhatsApp group at 2 a.m., hoping no one notices. Here are the details.
WhatsApp is rolling out three new features
WhatsApp has implemented long-requested improvements that should help you keep your communications private and your online privacy better.
1. Leave WhatsApp Groups Silently
Starting in August 2022, it will be possible to leave a WhatsApp group quietly without alerting everyone in the group. Only the administrators will be notified.
This will surely minimize the drama or embarrassment of quitting a group, as well as the usual DMs from individuals wondering why you abandoned them. If you are like this writer, who likes to leave a party silently, this function will be helpful to you.
2. Specify WhatsApp Who can see when you're Online?
WhatsApp started by allowing everyone to see when you were online. Then it enabled you to hide your online status from everyone. Then it made it so that only individuals in your contacts list and people you've already messaged may see you online.
WhatsApp will now allow you to determine who can and cannot see you when you are online. One can only hope that those among your friends and family whom you have not white-listed will not take offense.
3. Screenshot Blocking For WhatsApp's View Once
View Once, or vanishing images is a popular feature for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it helps to avoid revenge porn by jilted lovers who have access to your private photos. There was always the possibility that someone might screenshot the vanishing photo.
Why Has WhatsApp Added These Privacy Features?
According to an article on Meta Newsroom, these three new WhatsApp features will give you greater control while also adding interlocking layers of security.
According to People Magazine, these adjustments are being pushed in part by a recent WhatsApp worldwide privacy study, that found:
The impact of increased legal scrutiny of big tech by regulators and courts cannot be underestimated. The more secure the app can make itself, the less responsibility and unfavorable publicity it will face in the future from any legal cases relating to crimes or abuses performed on the app.
Furthermore, WhatsApp takes pride in its end-to-end encryption, and it is undoubtedly aware of the need to limit the competitive threat posed by other platforms like Signal, which offer similarly effective privacy protections.
Wait a few weeks before using WhatsApp's new privacy features.
WhatsApp has stated that these features are currently being tested and are not yet available on the app, so don't be disappointed if you can't locate them.
We're willing to wait because these additions will undoubtedly improve your WhatsApp experience and your safety.
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