WhatsApp is introducing a feature in select regions that lets some users share status updates with people they've recently interacted with. This system allows updates to reach people you've recently messaged or called, even if they are not saved in your contacts.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Story about: | Share status updates with unsaved numbers |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | The latest versions of WhatsApp for Android, iOS, and Web are designated as compatible updates. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is working on a feature to schedule messages! |
WhatsApp expands status updates to recent unsaved contacts
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.5.13 update, we announced a feature that allows users to choose close friends for status updates. This functionality will let users select which contacts to include in their close friends list. This separate list will enable users to share status updates that aren't visible to everyone in their contacts list. It would even give more control over privacy, as users can share their personal moments only with a smaller, trusted group of people. The close friends list is designed to be more selective than the "Only share with" privacy setting.
This feature is still under development. WhatsApp is currently refining the experience to make it clearer to users whether their status updates are shared with their close friends. In the meantime, WhatsApp is also dedicated to evolving status updates so they can reach a broader audience while still offering more flexible privacy controls.
As you can see from the attached image, some users may gain access to a feature that allows them to receive status updates from certain people who are not saved in their address book. Typically, users can receive status updates when someone includes them in their privacy settings and the contact is saved in their address book. WhatsApp also allows users to receive status updates when they are mentioned. In addition, users can receive status updates when a group they belong to is mentioned. This system allows information to reach only those who are contextually connected to the update.
On Android, iOS, and Web, WhatsApp is now testing new features in select regions that make status updates visible to more users. Some users may notice they are receiving updates from accounts they do not have saved in their contacts. These are accounts they have interacted with recently. This means that if you have recently messaged or called someone, they can now include you in their personal audience, even if you are not saved in their address book.
Some users may be concerned that this new feature could increase unwanted status updates on WhatsApp. However, this system is not expected to increase spam, as status updates are based on recent interactions between users. If users interact through messages or calls, they may also be interested in the updates they share. Note that WhatsApp does not maintain a centralized log that stores recent interactions for this feature. They are processed directly on the user's device rather than being kept on the server.
Status updates from unsaved numbers will show the sender's push name at the top of the screen, along with their phone number. Users can easily identify status updates from non-contacts by the tilde (~) displayed before their name, followed by their phone number. Note that the phone number is never visible on the status screen if shared by a contact. As a result, the phone number on the status interface lets users know that the update is from an unsaved phone number.
If you receive a status update from an account you've recently interacted with and you're not interested, you can hide it. Hiding their status update will allow you to stop seeing updates from that account without blocking them, giving you more control over your feed. However, you can always review their status updates from their contact info or from the hidden Updates section. You can also restore the visibility of these hidden updates at any time if you choose to. Additionally, users can report status updates from the overflow menu if they find the content inappropriate.
It's really important to note that users still have full control over their privacy settings. Sharing status updates with recently interacted accounts occurs when some users select the "My contacts" or "My contacts except" settings. These options now also include sharing status updates with accounts the user have recently messaged or called. If the user does not want their status updates to reach recently interacted accounts, they need to select the "Only share with" option. From here, users can select the contacts they want to share the status update with, and accounts with recent interactions will never be included.
Before this feature was introduced, sharing a status update with an unknown account required adding them to your contacts. The other user also needed to save your phone number in their address book. So status updates could only be shared when both users had each other saved in their contacts. With the new feature, this step is no longer required if there is mutual interaction. Now, it is possible to receive and share updates even if users aren't saved in each other's contacts. So users can finally get updates from people they interact with without manually adding every contact. It is important to mention that WhatsApp will automatically stop sharing status updates with unsaved phone numbers if the latest interactions are no longer recent.
This feature will become especially useful once WhatsApp introduces usernames this year. Usernames will let users connect with others without sharing phone numbers. Without this feature, it would not be possible to share status updates with accounts identified only by usernames, since the traditional system relies on saved phone numbers. With the new functionality, users can already start receiving updates from people they interact with. This will create a smoother path for sharing status updates once usernames are fully implemented.
The feature that allows users to share status updates with unsaved phone numbers is available to a limited number of users who install the latest WhatsApp updates. WhatsApp is gradually rolling out this feature in select countries. Users who have access can test how status updates may appear from accounts they haven't saved. Over time, WhatsApp may continue refining this system to make it even clearer who can see status updates.
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