The report says that WhatsApp may soon allow users to hide their online status. A screenshot that has been shared by WaBetaInfo shows that the feature is heavily under development.
How will the feature work?
Users will have the option to choose with whom they can share their last seen status. WhatsApp will add two new options – “Everyone” and “Like last seen”. The report explains how the feature works. You can select “My Contacts” for “Last Viewed” and “Like Last Viewed” online. This will ensure that anyone who is not on your contact list will not be able to tell if you are online or not.
Screenshot shared by WaBetaInfo on WhatsApp beta on iOS. However, this feature is expected to come to WhatsApp for Android and desktop computers. It’s currently unknown when this feature will be available as it’s not even in the beta version of the app yet.
Last year, WhatsApp introduced a similar feature but that is how users interact with businesses. In December 2021, WhatsApp revealed that it was “making it harder for people you don’t know and haven’t talked to yet to see your online presence and were last seen on WhatsApp.” However, this is meant for anyone who has used it who has never texted before. In case, a user has chatted with anyone they can see when they are online.
