According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on a feature that would allow users to mask their online status. On Saturday, the publication released a screenshot of the app’s new privacy settings, which allow users to choose who can see them when using the app. The capability would be in addition to the recent updates to WhatsApp’s Last Seen capabilities.
Following an April test deployment, Meta released an update that incorporated a “My Contacts Except” feature, giving you more granular control over who may see when you last checked the app. The issue with WhatsApp’s Last Viewed status was that it allowed contacts to find out if you’d seen their message even if read receipts were disabled.
Many users have asked for the ability to disguise their online status over the years. People may desire to use WhatsApp in stealth mode for a variety of reasons. For example, some users may want to use WhatsApp without being disturbed by other people, or they may even feel stalked by someone.
“We know a lot of people want this feature, so we also created a concept to disable the online status last year, that’s a good way to share feedback with WhatsApp”
WABetaINFO Report
While this functionality has not yet been made available to users, the overwhelming majority of feedback has been positive. It appears that more privacy, even in front of loved ones, is valued.