Summary
WhatsApp will now allow users to choose whether they want to be added to groups on the platform. The move is especially significant ahead of general elections when social media platforms are important for political campaigns. This new feature will ask people to seek the consent of a particular user before adding them on a group.
Highlights:
- Users will not be added to WhatsApp groups without their consent.
- The company said in a statement: “The app has added a new privacy setting in which an invite system will help users decide who can add them to groups. Previously, users could be added without their consent.”
- “As people turn to groups for important conversations, users have asked for more control over their experience. Today, we’re introducing a new privacy setting and invite system to help you decide who can add you to groups,” said WhatsApp.
- A spokesperson for WhatsApp termed the move a “significant change”. “We are updating the feature to a subset of users and expanding the feature from there. We’re starting in India today with beta users and will expand from there. We encourage users to update their app to the latest version,” said the spokesperson.