The popular communication service WhatsApp has received an update that promotes your privacy. With the new options you determine who sees your profile picture, information page and last seen status, and above all: who does not. How does it work?
You now have an extra setting at your disposal for the three components mentioned. Next Everybody† My contacts and No oneyou now get access to My contacts except†
When you tap on that last option, your contact list will appear. The contacts you choose from this list will therefore no longer see your details, profile picture and last minute online. So you have a little more control over who sees what within the app.
A next step could be that WhatsApp turns things around and an option like Nobody except would offer. Then it is much easier for you to determine for yourself who sees what and you will soon be left with an important group of people who see everything about you that you want to share, while you prevent the rest from getting everything too.
Now you can still arrange that with the current option, but it takes a little more time. Now you select the contacts who are not allowed to see something, instead of the people who are allowed to see something. Well, it might just be a preference.
Set WhatsApp privacy options
Setting up the new privacy options for WhatsApp is quite simple. When you open the app and go to the settings, take the steps below to select who can no longer see what cool photo you have on your profile.
- Go to Account and select the option Privacy
- Under the heading Who can see my data zie you have four options: Last Seen, Profile Picture, Info and Status
- Select one of the options (or visit them all once)
- Choose now My contacts, except… from
- Then select the people you want to exclude
- Now press the large, green button that you see at the bottom right of the screen
On the page where WhatsApp explains How the new function works, you will see a number of tips. Now that you’re browsing through the settings, check everything.
Do you still like that others can see that you have read their messages? If the answer is no, put the button next to Read receipts to. Always pay attention to exactly what you share online, including on WhatsApp.
You can find many more online privacy tips in our Online Course: Security and Privacy!
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