Meta will allow blocking messages sent by unknown accounts on WhatsApp, a safeguard against spam and scams that is currently in development and expected to reach users in a forthcoming app update.
To bolster user protection, the tech company has introduced several privacy tools, including contact blocking and temporary chats. Advanced options allow disabling link previews shared in conversations and protecting the IP address during calls.
Now Meta is advancing another sophisticated privacy feature. When enabled, it will prevent messages from unknown accounts from reaching the user, as reported by the specialized portal WABetainfo. The feature notes that its effectiveness may depend on the message volume, with activity beyond a certain threshold triggering the block.
Beyond user protection, this update aims to improve the app’s performance by reducing spam, scams, and other unwanted messages.
This feature is currently in testing, having appeared in the Android beta (version 2.24.17.24), and it will be rolled out to users in a future app update.
[Citation: WABetainfo notes the feature is under review and may be limited by message volume. For coverage on other privacy tools, see official Meta releases and user reports.]