WhatsApp is taking a significant step to enhance the safety of its younger users with a new WhatsApp privacy update discovered in its latest Android beta. This upcoming feature is designed to automatically adjust privacy settings, aiming to comply with new digital protection laws and bolster the online privacy of minors.
Why is this WhatsApp Privacy Update Happening?
This proactive measure from WhatsApp serves as preparation for new child and adolescent protection laws that are expected to be enacted. These regulations will require technology companies to offer stricter controls and protection mechanisms for young users, fostering a safer digital environment. Therefore, WhatsApp is preparing its platform to ensure compliance once the laws take effect.
The feature, identified in the Android beta version 2.26.5.1, will automatically switch certain privacy settings to a more protected level. This move will help prevent young users’ personal information from being viewed by unknown individuals.
Which Settings Will Change Automatically?
With the new update, three core privacy settings will be modified for young users. If these settings are currently set to “Everyone,” WhatsApp will automatically change them to “My Contacts.” Users affected by this change will be informed via an in-app notification. Here are the settings that will be updated:
- Last Seen: This feature, which shows when a user was last active, will now only be visible to people saved in their contacts. This will prevent strangers from tracking the online activity of young users.
- About: The personal status or information note under a user’s profile will now be shared only with their contacts. This helps prevent minors from inadvertently sharing personal details like their location or availability with the public.
- Profile Links: Social media links, such as those for Facebook and Instagram, that users can add to their profiles are also being protected. Changing this setting to “My Contacts” is a crucial step in preventing unknown individuals from easily accessing the social media accounts of young people.
This privacy update is just one of several steps WhatsApp is taking to secure its platform for younger users. The company previously announced it was working on a feature allowing parents to create secondary accounts with limited functionality for their children. These accounts aim to provide an additional layer of protection by only allowing minors to message and call people in their contact list.
However, it is important to note that this automatic privacy update feature is currently in the development stage and is not yet active, even for beta testers. WhatsApp is continuing its work to ensure a flawless experience before rolling it out to all users. When the legal regulations come into force, WhatsApp is expected to be ready to update these three critical privacy settings for affected users.
So, what are your thoughts on WhatsApp’s new privacy regulations? Share your opinions with us in the comments!
