WhatsApp is rolling out new safety tools that alert users when they're added to groups by unknown contacts. These features provide key information and options to help users decide whether to stay or leave, enhancing overall group chat security.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Safety tools for group chats |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | The latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS are designated as compatible updates. |
| I've installed the latest version but these features are not available. Why? | This feature is rolling out globally but may not yet be available to all users. It could take some days before it reaches a wider audience. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.22.14: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to open their profile settings from the Chats tab! |
SAFETY TOOLS FOR GROUP CHATS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.6 update, we announced that new safety tools when receiving messages from unknown phone numbers were available. This feature displays a dedicated safety tool screen when users receive a message from an unknown phone number for the first time. This interface provides guidance on how to handle such interactions, including the ability to block or report the contact, and offers tips on verifying the identity of the sender by checking their profile name, photo, and country code. This feature also ensures that unknown senders won't be notified if their message has been read unless the user replies or adds the number to their contacts. Now, WhatsApp is expanding these safety tools to group chats, offering users additional protection and context when they are added to groups by unknown contacts.
WhatsApp announced in a dedicated blog post that a new safety overview screen will appear when users are added to a group by someone not in their contact list. This is particularly useful in protecting users from being unexpectedly included in suspicious or unfamiliar groups. The safety screen will display key information about the group, such as its name, who added the user, and a reminder that they were added by someone not saved in their contacts. This additional layer of context helps users make a quick and informed decision about whether they want to stay in the group or exit immediately.
With this new feature, users can leave the group without having to open or read any of the messages within it. Notifications from the group will also be muted by default until the user confirms they want to remain a participant. This reduces the chances of being overwhelmed or pressured by messages in potentially harmful or scam-related group chats. If the group seems familiar or legitimate, the user can opt to view the chat for more context before deciding to interact.
This feature is designed to combat a rising tactic used by scammers, who often add random users to groups promoting fake investment opportunities, fraudulent giveaways, or urgent calls for money. By intercepting these interactions at the group entry point, users can take better control before they are exposed to deceptive or manipulative messages. In particular, these tools help guard against common scam strategies meant to rush users into making payments or sharing sensitive information. WhatsApp is responding to an increase in abuse by organized scam networks, many of which operate globally and target users across messaging platforms.
WhatsApp emphasizes that safety and user awareness must go hand-in-hand. To support this, the new group safety tools display educational tips that encourage users to pause, double check links, and verify before interacting with unfamiliar or suspicious messages. This approach strengthens proactive safety measures by designing features that prevent harm before it happens. These group safety tools work alongside WhatsApp's existing spam and abuse detection systems, which automatically flag and block millions of suspicious accounts. In the first half of this year alone, WhatsApp revealed that more than 6.8 million accounts linked to scam operations were banned.
Thanks to the new safety overview, users are better equipped to spot these red flags from the moment they're added to a group. They can evaluate the source and intent of the invitation without pressure, and without revealing any engagement to the scammers. This passive defense, where users simply don't respond or remain unseen in the group until they decide to engage, is a powerful improvement to safety. Additionally, these tools support user autonomy by giving them a choice: stay, explore, or exit immediately, all without compromising their privacy or control. WhatsApp also encourages users to report suspicious groups and group admins, which helps improve enforcement actions across the platform.
The safety overview is rolling out globally to users who update WhatsApp for Android from the Google Play Store and iOS from the App Store. For those who don't see the feature yet, it may take a few days to become available.
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