According to reports, WhatsApp is working on a feature that would let users hide their online status. The meta-owned instant messaging service is reportedly working on a new privacy-focused feature that will enable users of its Android app to hide their phone numbers from particular communities. The phone number sharing feature is still under development for WhatsApp for Android beta 2.22.17.23; which is available through the Google Play beta program. Testers cannot currently access the functionality because it is still being developed.
According to a report by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo users of WhatsApp may soon be able to hide phone numbers from particular WhatsApp groups on Android. This option will inactive by default. When you join, your phone number is automatically hidden from all group members; but if you change your mind later, you can choose to share it with a specific subgroup. According to rumors, the messaging app will roll out the update using the Android 2.22.17.23 beta through the Google Play beta program.
Only WhatsApp communities will make use of this feature. Beta testers cannot access it yet, and changes are anticipated before the official release. With a new Login Approval feature and the ability to hide the numbers from groups, the messaging service is reportedly working on a way to protect users from harmful individuals. Users may receive notifications inside of WhatsApp when someone logs in to an account from a different smartphone; and it builds on WhatsApp’s existing two-step verification feature.
In addition, WhatsApp is rolling out a number of improvements to make its platform’s chats more user-friendly. Users will reportedly be able to hide their online status thanks to a new feature; As for beta testers, this functionality has not been made available yet because it is still under development.
