Twitter user @NiHaolain (via) contacted WhatsApp support for additional information. The WhatsApp team confirmed the development in an email, saying this is designed to “improve the privacy and security” of customers. There are a handful of third-party apps on the Play Store and App Store that allow users to keep logs on their fellow WhatsApp users. This is obviously a privacy nightmare, and it seems like WhatsApp has finally decided to fix this once and for all.
Users can hide their last seen from contacts using “My Contacts Except…” under privacy
WhatsApp also allows users to hide their last seen status from people they’ve interacted with. This requires selecting the “My Contacts Except…” option under privacy settings. This feature is currently rolling out to some users on WhatsApp beta, so it’s not widely available as of yet. The Meta-owned instant messaging app recently added new functionality to the disappearing messages feature. This allows users to enable disappearing messages by default for all new one on one conversations. Last month, the multi-device feature on WhatsApp was updated to allow full control of your account on other devices. Although it still doesn’t cover tablets, the feature finally lets users interact using WhatsApp even when the primary device is off. These user-friendly features come in the wake of sharp criticism leveled against WhatsApp earlier this over concerns about data sharing with its parent company. WhatsApp proposed a revamped privacy policy that would enable data sharing with Facebook. Moreover, the app mandated users to accept the new privacy policy in order to continue using its core features. However, the company changed course after receiving widespread disapproval. WhatsApp later said that accepting the privacy policy would be optional. But accepting the new terms would be necessary for messaging business accounts on the platform. However, this didn’t stop millions from flocking to secure messaging apps like Telegram and Signal. Taking these factors into account, it’s understandable why WhatsApp wants to reshape its image as a privacy-focused messaging app.
