WhatsApp, the popular messaging service, is rolling out privacy updates aimed at giving users more control over their presence and who can see them online. The changes are designed to let groups function more smoothly while preserving discretion, aligning with a broader effort to strengthen privacy for people in Canada and the United States.
The company is signaling ongoing innovations that keep messages private and secure, aiming to mirror the level of privacy people expect in in-person conversations. This commitment to tighter privacy is part of a broader strategy to enhance user trust across the platform and to ensure conversations feel as intimate and protected as possible for everyday chats, family updates, and work-related discussions alike.
When a member leaves a group, a notification now appears in the chat to indicate who has exited. This helps maintain transparency within groups, while users still retain the option to hide whether they have read a message. However, the online status of active users on WhatsApp remains visible to others by default, unless new privacy settings are applied.
The update also introduces improvements around visibility controls. WhatsApp has noted significant demand from its users to manage who can see when they are online or that they have opened a message. In response, the service is testing tools that could limit or block certain information disclosure, with broader availability anticipated in the near future. The focus continues to be on practical privacy features that users can trust for everyday communications.
Product managers and engineers emphasize that the platform is prioritizing features that grant greater control over messages and presence. The goal is to empower people to share more selectively, reducing unintended exposure while still enabling natural conversations across groups, chats, and one-to-one discussions.