WhatsApp rolls out new privacy features, among other updates

After months of beta testing, WhatsApp is introducing much-needed quality of life changes.
By Chance Townsend  on 
Icon of Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger (Facebook's proprietary messaging app) alongside other social media apps on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone's touchscreen.
Credit: EThamPhoto via Getty

WhatsApp announced Wednesday that it’ll be rolling out new privacy features giving users more control over the kinds of information other people can see. With the new update, users can limit who can see their profile photo, last seen status, and more, according to Engadget.

The change includes a new option that allows users to exclude specific people in your contacts from seeing your profile photo, about, and last seen status, as reported by Engadget. This appears to be a convenient feature for people to hide from businesses, banking accounts, or creepy people on WhatsApp.

Previously, WhatsApp only had three options: everyone, my contacts, and nobody. Engadget also says that if users do decide to hide their last seen status from others, you won’t be able to see theirs either.

Prior to the official launch, the new privacy setting was available to select users as part of a limited beta. The meta-owned messaging platform also announced new updates for its group calls. In a tweet from the head of WhatsApp at Meta Will Cathcart, participants in large group calls can now mute or message specific people.

According to Techcrunch, it’s been a feature-heavy week for WhatsApp concerning privacy and convenience. The company also announced earlier this week that it was adding the ability for users to transfer their conversation chat history, photos, videos, and voice messages from Android to iPhone via Apple’s Move to iOS app.

Users can enable the features on their WhatsApp accounts soon since it could be an incremental rollout.

Topics WhatsApp

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Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Currently residing in Austin, Texas, Chance Townsend is an Assistant Editor at Mashable. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas with the bulk of his research primarily focused on online communities, dating apps, and professional wrestling.

In his free time, he's an avid cook, loves to sleep, and "enjoys" watching the Lions and Pistons break his heart on a weekly basis. If you have any stories or recipes that might be of interest you can reach him by email at [email protected].


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