This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
November 7, 2019
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, has rolled out a new feature to give users more control over their group chat experience.
With the new update, users can now decide whether or not to be added to group chats, putting an end to the debate on how to maintain privacy on the platform.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp explained that the new feature was introduced to give users more control over their experience, especially as people turn to groups for important conversations.
The new permissions can be enabled by going to Settings, then Account, Privacy, Groups.
Users have two options: My Contacts Options, which allows only users they have in their address book to add them to a group, and My Contacts Except, which allows them to pinpoint particular users who they'd prefer were unable to add them.
"In those cases, an admin who can't add you to a group will be prompted to send a private invite through an individual chat, giving you the choice of joining the group. You'll have three days to accept the invite before it expires," WhatsApp explained.
The update is available from today on both iOS and Android.
