There is no doubt, WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app and service. There have been quite a few privacy concerns about the service recently but it managed to take care of it.
One privacy feature, end-to-end encryption makes the messaging secure between the sender and the receiver. This feature is turned on by default and can not be turned off by the users. Apart from that, there are several other privacy options that the users can opt in or out as they wish.
WhatsApp offers users to control which information they want to share with friends, family and anyone who has their number added. That includes your “profile photo”, “about”, “status” and most importantly the “Last seen” which now, after latest update, could be “Last seen and online” if the option rolled out to you.
Both the “Last seen” and “online” information of yours can be intrusive at various times. Your contacts can see when was the last time you were online (if Last seen option turned on), or if it is right now that you are online (if the new Online option is turned on). WhatsApp has made both the options flexible enough for the users to turn them off or customise as they want.
The “Last seen” option is available to all users. Users can manage to turn this option completely off or limit their last seen time to their contacts only. Users can also restrict some of their contacts from viewing their “last seen” information.
Note: To make this tutorial, following steps were performed on an Android phone. iOS users should use their respective order of steps.
Note: Any option you choose will work other way around with the people you are messaging. If you don’t want other people or selected contacts see your “Last seen”, you won’t be able to see theirs. It’s that simple.
Your “online” status on WhatsApp was probably the most vigorous factor of the messaging app, that you couldn’t turn this off. Millennials have always used such a status option in the internet messengers from the past.
WhatsApp announced in August 2022 that the most awaited option to hide your “online” status was coming. Since then, the users have been waiting curiously and it has now beginning to roll out. The option is bundled with the “Last seen” option and is available as “Last seen and online”.
Follow the steps below to manage your “online” status on WhatsApp, only if the option is available to you.
The new setting to hide your “online” status offers only two options to choose from. Either you can allow “everyone” to see when you are online, or it will follow your preferences for your “last seen”. That means you can not set your “Last seen” to “Everyone or some contacts” but “Online” to “Nobody”.
Note: “Online” settings also work like “last seen” in reverse. You will not be able to see the people when the are “online” if you restrict them to see yours.
Online status controls (with several other the privacy features) have began rolling out in August, however, they aren’t available for everyone yet. Just keep an eye on your privacy settings as you won’t know when it reaches you silently.
Pakistan’s smartphone scene just got more exciting. The buzz around the much-talked-about tech company Nothing…
In an exciting development for Pakistan’s tech landscape, SpaceX’s revolutionary satellite internet service, Starlink, could…
In an exciting development for digital payment enthusiasts, Google has announced the expansion of its…
Beme, a pioneering tech brand, is thrilled to introduce its latest innovation, the Beme Nomad…
Apple is gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 16 lineup later…
OPPO, known for its innovation in smart devices, has announced the launch of its high-end…