What is WhatsApp 'stealth mode' and how do I select when I appear online
WhatsApp has announced a new 'stealth mode' to allow users to pick who can see when they were last online.
The messaging platform announced the new privacy feature as one of three new tools aimed at increasing users' privacy while keeping them connected with loved ones.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of WhatsApp's parent company Meta, said it was a way of "building new ways to protect your messages and keep them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations."
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What is WhatsApp's new privacy feature?
'Stealth mode' will be rolling out to all users this month, allowing them to pick who can see when they are online.
It will allow users to customise who can and cannot see if they were online, keeping their online presence private.
While users are already able to turn off a feature which tells others if they have read a message, it has not been possible until now to hide the fact that a user was online and using WhatsApp.
A statement from WhatsApp said: "Seeing when friends or family are online helps us feel connected to one another, but we've all had times when we wanted to check our WhatsApp privately.
"For the times you want to keep your online presence private, we're introducing the ability to select who can and can't see when you're online"
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How do I launch stealth mode?
Open WhatsApp
Tap the Settings icon in the bottom right corner
Tap Account
Tap Privacy
Tap Last Seen & Online
Under "Who can see my last seen" you'll find a new "who can see when I'm online" option.
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What else has WhatsApp launched?
WhatsApp will also allow users to leave group chats without notifying others in the group.
Currently, when a user leaves a group chat a notification appears at the bottom of the conversation telling others in the group who has left.
They will also be given the ability to block people from taking screenshots of View Once messages, which are designed to disappear after being opened.
The screenshot blocking tool is currently being tested, WhatsApp said, and would be released to users soon.
The Meta-owned messaging platform said the new features aimed to keep improving the privacy around online conversations.
Some campaigners have raised concerns about the end-to-end encryption used on WhatsApp and some other platforms to secure conversations, arguing that it can allow criminals to evade detection.
Ami Vora, WhatsApp’s head of product, said the platform was focused on building features that “empower people to have more control and privacy over their messages”.
“Over the years, we’ve added interlocking layers of protection to help keep their conversations secure, and the new features is one way we continue to deliver on our commitment to keep messages private,” she said.
“No other global messaging service at this scale provides this level of security for their users’ messages, media, voice messages, video calls, and chat backups.
“We believe WhatsApp is the most secure place to have a private conversation. And to spread the word about these new features, we’re also kicking off a global campaign, starting with the UK and India, to educate people about how we work to protect their private conversations on WhatsApp.”
