WhatsApp has announced a new ‘common sense’ privacy feature that’ll save you from being added to random WhatsApp groups, making it almost impossible for those ‘KEWL GALS’ to add you on their WhatsApp ‘Kitty Party Groups’.
In an upcoming iOS (and Android) app update, we’ll finally be granted the permission to choose who can add us to their WhatsApp Groups and who can’t. All thanks to a simple security settings that will add the ability to accept or reject invitations sent through DMs.
So, here’s a preview of the response you can expect when you DM me to join a random group – BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE COURT OF WHATSAPP, I NOW CHOOSE TO REJECT YOUR REQUEST!
Once available, these are steps to be followed to activate this superpower: Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups and then choose from “Everyone,” “My Contacts,” or “Nobody”.
Since the labels might seem a bit deceptive, here’s a breakdown:
- If you select “My Contacts” – only the users in your address book can add you to groups.
- If you select “Nobody,” – users must invite you to a group over DM, meaning you’ll have to approve joining every group you’re invited to. (Remember the times when any stranger could just automatically add you to a group? Gone are the days!)
- If you select ‘Everyone’, well, then this feature is obviously a waste of time as it doesn’t change anything from the way things function currently.
Oh, and the group invite expires within 72 hours. No pressure!
It’s in Beta Currently
As every light has its shadow, here’s one for iPhone users! Unless you are in the Test Flight program, you don’t get to try your hands at the new privacy feature as it’s still in testing phase. But, don’t worry, the final version will be out any day! Until then, may the Lord have mercy on you!
