New Delhi: WhatsApp has been reported to be working on a feature that lets users check the privacy settings of their status updates within the Status interface. According to some reports, users can see who their status was shared with and whether it can be reshared, without having to rely on settings, memory or deleting the update. The update focuses on adding more visibility and clarity around status privacy, especially for users who frequently change their audience settings before posting. The feature has been spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.2.9, which is currently available to beta testers.
The latest option appears inside the viewer’s menu of status updates that was shared within the last 24 hours. When the users open the menu from this screen, they may see the latest Audience option. Tapping on its open summary page that clearly shows the privacy settings used for that specific status update. At the top of this section, WhatsApp displays who the status was shared with. If it were visible to all saved contacts, the label reads My Contacts. If the update was shared with limitations, users will see options such as May Contacts Except or Only Share with. In cases where restrictions were applied, WhatsApp also shows exactly which contacts were excluded or included in the selected list.
The feature may be helpful for users who frequently change their status and privacy settings. Many people share different updates with other updates in various groups. WhatsApp has not offered a clear way to check the audience of a status after it was posted. Once the update went live, users had to rely on their memory to recall which privacy option they had selected.
If there was any doubt, especially after switching between different audiences, the only safe option was often to delete the status and share it again. The Audience section also shows whether the status update can be reshared by viewers. WhatsApp already enables users to control reshares, but the report stated that it is easy to forget whether this option was turned on or off for a specific update.
