Facebook-owned Whatsapp has rolled out a new feature for its users. The company is trying to stop the spread of fake news and wrong information, and these new features are another effort for it. With the new privacy feature, now you can control who has permission to add you to the groups.
WhatsApp says this will decrease abuse and will keep people’s numbers private. In addition, now you can control settings so people cannot add you directly to the groups. By changing settings, you’ll first get an invite if someone adds you and then you can choose to accept the invitation or not.
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India is WhatsApp’s biggest market. India’s leftist political parties use the app to blast messages to groups organized by caste, income level, and religion. The number of hoaxes has skyrocketed as WhatsApp parent Facebook clamped down on fake news. Reports of hoaxes that last year numbered in the dozens per day have since grown to hundreds per day. And WhatsApp is now removing around 2 million suspicious accounts globally per month.
How to use Whatsapp Privacy Settings?
To enable this new protection, you have to go to Settings > then tap on Account > Privacy > Groups. Here you can choose 3 different options: “Nobody,” “My Contacts” or “Everybody.”
If you choose “Everybody” then anyone can add you to their groups. If you choose the “My Contacts” option then only people in your contact list can add you to groups. Choosing the “Nobody” option will need the approval of joining every group to which you are invited.
If you choose “My Contacts” or “Nobody” and any unknown people add you to the group, then they will get a prompt message to send a private invite through an individual chat. In that way, you can also accept the invitation and join the group.
This individual invitation you get can be from a person who is not in your regular contacts, which means can be from a stranger. The invite will expire in three days if you don’t accept it.
The most recent version of Whatsapp will be required to use the new privacy settings. The new privacy settings roll out to some users today and will reach the rest of WhatsApp’s audience in the weeks ahead.
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Can I stop people from adding me to WhatsApp groups?
Yes, with the new privacy settings, you can control who can add you to groups. You can choose from three options: Everyone, My Contacts, or My Contacts Except.
Where do I find the new WhatsApp group privacy settings?
The new group privacy setting is located within your WhatsApp app settings. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups.
What happens if someone not in my contacts tries to add me to a group now?
If your settings restrict who can add you, admins without your number will need to send a private invite through individual chat for your approval.
Is there a way to block someone from adding me to groups altogether?
While there’s no “block” option for group invites, choosing “My Contacts Except” lets you exclude specific contacts or everyone, essentially achieving a similar outcome.
Will these new group privacy settings also apply to WhatsApp Web or Desktop?
Yes, although you can’t change them directly on WhatsApp Web/Desktop, settings from your phone will automatically sync and apply there.
Are there any downsides to using the stricter privacy settings for WhatsApp groups?
Some groups you might be interested in joining may require admins to send invites first, potentially leading to missed connections if they don’t reach out.
