WhatsApp is rolling out a brand new privateness measure that hides your “last seen” standing from folks you don’t know or haven’t chatted with within the app (through WABetaInfo). Previously, WhatsApp set the characteristic on “Everyone” by default, permitting anybody on WhatsApp to see your standing. WhatsApp’s new replace limits the visibility of your standing to the folks you’ve added on the platform, and units the characteristic to “My Contacts” by default as a substitute.

In a submit on Twitter, a person explains that you could be not have the ability to see different folks’s statuses on the platform anymore, and in addition contains an e-mail from what seems to be WhatsApp assist that describes the brand new characteristic. “We’re making it harder for people you don’t know and haven’t chatted with from seeing your last seen and online presence on WhatsApp,” the e-mail reads.

The “My Contacts” possibility on your “last seen” standing was already obtainable, however it’s by no means been the default on the app. It’s additionally price noting that WhatsApp already has a “Nobody” possibility as nicely, stopping all customers from seeing your standing. Your standing on WhatsApp lets different contacts know while you have been on-line final, or if you happen to’re presently utilizing the app. While this will seem to be a innocent method to maintain monitor of your family and friends (and vice versa), WABetaInfo factors out that some third-party apps really exploit this characteristic.

These apps can combination the statuses of sure customers, which can allow some to maintain slightly too shut of an eye fixed on others utilizing the platform. Turning on the “My Contacts” choices prevents third-party apps from logging your on-line standing, as an app isn’t thought of certainly one of your contacts, and due to this fact, it received’t have the ability to see your standing.

This isn’t the one change WhatsApp is making to its “last seen” standing. In November, WABetaInfo discovered that the messaging app started testing an possibility, referred to as “My Contacts Except … which lets customers disguise their standing from sure contacts. WhatsApp has additionally been working to bolster person privateness by introducing an choice to make its disappearing messaging characteristic the default.