WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy feature for users. The application now allows them to hide their online status in chats. This is an important privacy feature that is already existing in the Signal app. If you don’t want your WhatsApp contacts to see when you are online or using the app, then you can simply hide it by visiting the settings section.
However, if you turn off the Online Status feature for your friends, then you also won’t be able to check out their online presence. This is same as how Last Seen feature works and you will find the latest update in the same section. With the latest privacy update, WhatsApp is making it difficult for the users to understand if someone has blocked them.
If a user hides all three privacy options like Online, Profile Photo and Status in the privacy section of the app, then it will be difficult for a person to recognise blocked status.
Read the following steps to keep your Online status in privacy
- First, open the WhatsApp app and tap on the three-dotted icon placed on the top right corner
- Now, tap on settings – Accounts- and Online feature. Tap on it and then select Nobody and the Same as last seen” option. When you tap on “Nobody”, you can hide the online status from everyone. You can also choose the “My Contacts” option then your online status will only be available to your contacts.