WhatsApp Updates: Online Status Privacy, Edit Messages, and Group Limits

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Since WhatsApp entered the scene in 2009, instant messaging apps have evolved steadily, shaping how people stay connected. Over the years, updates have sharpened the user experience, balancing convenience with privacy and control.

Among the most talked-about changes was the inclusion of audio messages. Many users have a family member or friend who communicates almost exclusively through voice notes rather than typing. While voice memos can feel convenient, they also sparked a range of opinions about how people communicate. As updates continued, features that let users replay audio at faster speeds appeared, addressing requests from users who wanted to skim through long voice messages. WhatsApp, the widely used messaging app with billions of downloads, has consistently refreshed its feature set to keep conversations efficient and fun.

So you can read your WhatsApp messages without entering the app

Whispers of privacy concerns followed some of the changes. The so-called blue checkmark that indicates a message has been delivered and read drew debate about personal privacy and the balance between transparency and discretion. Questions about whether someone has seen a message but not replied became common, prompting discussions about how much information should be visible to others.

In response, settings were introduced to disable the blue tick, giving users more control over their visibility. The most recent innovations go even further by offering new ways to manage presence and accessibility within chats. This article explains what these updates involve and how to configure them on devices.

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The latest WhatsApp update finally lets users hide that they are online. This feature has been anticipated for a long time and is now available. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that users could control their online presence within the app. People can choose who can see their online status and who cannot, providing a more private browsing experience during conversations.

This is the latest WhatsApp news: Edit text messages after sending

The new capability has begun rolling out to some beta testers on Android, in versions 2.22.20.9 and 2.22.20.7. In practice, access is currently limited to beta users or testers who can enable the feature through the app settings. There, users can decide which contacts have access to see changes in messages, their last seen status, and their online activity. The new privacy permissions complement other settings, allowing individuals to curate who can view certain information about their activity.

WhatsApp opens groups with a maximum of 512 participants

While the privacy update remains in beta for now, developers anticipate a broader rollout in the coming weeks. To hide the online status, users should open the app’s Settings, navigate to Account, then Privacy. There is a tab labeled last seen or online status where users can choose who may view their presence.

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