This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
October 22, 2019, marked a significant milestone for WhatsApp users as the platform began rolling out a much-anticipated feature: the ability to choose who can add you to groups. This feature, which debuted in April for Indian users, has now been made available globally, giving users more control over their group privacy.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature will give users three options for who can add them to a group: 'Nobody', 'My Contacts', or 'Everyone'. If you choose 'Nobody', you'll have to approve joining every group to which you're invited. If you select 'My Contacts', only users you have in your address book can add you to groups.
When someone tries to add you to a group without asking and you have these options set on your app, the person adding you to a group will be prompted to send a private invite through an individual chat. There will also be a blacklist option allowing you to specify who cannot add you in groups if you want to do that on a contact by contact basis.
Additionally, you'll have three days to accept the invite before it expires. The feature requires WhatsApp Build 2.19.110.20 for iOS and is also available for Android.
WhatsApp says the feature will be found under Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups and will begin rolling out today. It should be available to everyone in a few weeks.
