Meta group instant messenger is rolling out new features to enhance the privacy of its users, such as extending the time to delete a message and being able to leave a group discreetly.
WhatsApp is a great instant messenger. But, like many other digital tools, it can lead to abuses. It is thus very easy to obtain private information regarding someone from their phone number alone (see our Factsheet), and certain functions of the application can lead to embarrassing situations – not to mention a certain form of espionage in the most serious cases. WhasApp had already worked on the problem by allowing to choose the contacts authorized to see their profile photo, their personal information as well as the time of their last connection, and to turn off notifications Seen at for some contacts especially. The Meta group – owner of WhatsApp but also of Facebook and Instagram – continues its momentum since it announced on August 9 on his blog the gradual deployment of new functions aimed at giving users back some control over the visibility of their personal information.
WhatsApp: new functions to protect your privacy
Until now, users might delete a message sent on WhatsApp following one day, eight hours and sixteen seconds – a particularly precise timing. As announced on Twitter, this deadline has been extended. From now on, it is possible to delete a message up to sixty hours following it was sent, ie two and a half days. One can nevertheless ask the question of the usefulness of such a delay….
In the coming month, users will be able to leave a group without everyone else in the conversation being notified – and therefore aware. Normally, a small message appears in the conversation and the application even goes so far as to warn the other participants of this departure. Rather uncomfortable when you want to be discreet, especially since a group can contain up to 256 participants. With the new option, no one will be aware – unless they consult and know the list of members by heart – except for the group administrators, who will still receive an alert.
Finally, Mark Zuckerberg announced that single view messages will soon block screenshots – much like photos and videos sent to Snapchat. Indeed, the application allows images to be sent for a limited time – they can only be viewed once – without leaving any traces. Finally, in theory since some take the opportunity to take screenshots… For the moment, Meta hasn’t given a rollout date for this feature, which is still in testing, but can’t wait “to deploy it to our users.” Other new security options are also expected to arrive in the coming months as the group has said it wants to continue to “to develop new ways to protect messages and make them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations.”
