HIGHLIGHTS

• WhatsApp is finally getting the much-needed privacy option.
• The messaging platform will soon let you hide last seen from specific contacts.
• Earlier, WhatsApp only allowed users to show last seen to everyone, my contacts, and nobody.

If I had to rank the most annoying feature ever built by WhatsApp, it has to be the Last seen status. But, the messaging platform was smart enough to add some privacy layers, which allowed everyone to choose who could see their Last seen. But the privacy option was limited and included – Everyone, My Contacts, and Nobody. Unfortunately, nobody’s option for me was the default for Last seen status for all these years. But, this may change soon. As WhatsApp prepares to add the most crucial privacy option we all deserve.

WhatsApp is finally rolling out an update to beta users, adding a new privacy option and adding the ability to hide your Last seen status on WhatsApp from specific contacts. So, you can soon add your co-workers, your boss, and your most annoying relatives to that list on WhatsApp. Long story short, you can be safe from comments like, “I saw you were online on WhatsApp.”

While surely I’m not too fond of Last Seen Status on WhatsApp, but I think it’s an excellent way for your close ones to keep an eye on the messaging platform to see when you were last using it. This, in fact, becomes even more important when you can’t reply to people, but they can see that you were not using WhatsApp for some time. It just makes it easier for you to explain that you were not on the app.

However, WhatsApp could have added another option that could have been more popular than “My contacts except…” and that would have been “Share Last seen with”.

The current option in testing will mean that you would still have to softly block most people in your contact list. While the “Share Last seen with” could have allowed you to add select contacts that you can see when you’re online. I hope someone on WhatsApp reads this.

So, what is the new Last seen option coming to WhatsApp?

Image: WABetainfo

WhatsApp’s Last seen privacy setting

The feature is still in testing, and that’s why WhatsApp is currently only rolling it out to beta users. However, once rolled out, users will be able to hide their Last seen status from specific contacts.This will be a big change from the current set of options available to WhatsApp users. The most important bit is the control it will give to users. Imagine you don’t want some random neighbourhood to stalk you on the messaging app.

WABetainfo, who keeps track of new WhatsApp updates in its latest report, claims that the new Last seen privacy setting is rolling out to beta users. In addition, it’s worth noting that WhatsApp plans to roll out similar “My contacts except…” for Profile photo and About options.

The new privacy setting isn’t for Profile photo and About WhatsApp options after the recent beta update, which means the wait could be longer.

Before you opt for any option for Last seen, always remember that if you don’t share your Last Seen, you won’t be able to see other people’s last seen. But that shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

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