What Is WhatsApp Advanced Chat Privacy? Here’s How To Turn It On
WhatsApp has introduced Advanced Chat Privacy, a feature that builds on its end-to-end encryption to … More
WhatsApp, used by billions of people, is end-to-end encrypted, which means no one can read your chats — even WhatsApp.
Yet when using WhatsApp, certain features could impact your privacy, especially in group chats, where other users can export your chats or download photos and videos. More recently, the ability to use Meta AI, also known as the blue circle, in group chats means others could use the tool without your permission.
It is with this in mind that WhatsApp has introduced Advanced Chat Privacy, a feature that builds on its end-to-end encryption to ensure your messages remain as private as possible by keeping chats in the app. So what exactly is Advanced Chat Privacy, when should you use it and how do you turn it on?
What Is WhatsApp Advanced Chat Privacy?
The Advanced Chat Privacy feature builds on previous WhatsApp tools aiming to help control how your messages are shared and used by others. These include disappearing messages — which I am a huge fan of — and chat lock.
Available in chats and groups, Advanced Chat Privacy helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp when you may want extra privacy.
When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone and using messages for AI features.
Advanced Chat Privacy can be toggled on alongside other WhatsApp Privacy features.
When Should You Use WhatsApp Advanced Chat Privacy?
“WhatsApp groups are increasingly an extension of our real world networks, some of which are far closer than others,” Meta’s WhatsApp explained in a blog when launching the feature in April.
Taking this into account, according to Meta, the feature is best used when talking with groups where you may not know everyone closely, WhatsApp advises. It cites the example of someone talking about health challenges in a support group or organising a community about something important to you.
How To Turn On WhatsApp Advanced Chat Privacy
You can turn on Advanced Chat Privacy by tapping the chat name, then tapping on Advanced Chat Privacy. Toggle Advanced Chat Privacy to on to access its features.
Toggle Advanced Chat Privacy to on to access its features.
WhatsApp Privacy — What To Do
WhatsApp is adding privacy features all the time, in response to user demand as some threaten to switch to apps such as Signal. Advanced Chat Privacy is a very useful feature that you should turn on in all group chats and even general ones if you really value your privacy.
WhatsApp says it will be adding updates to Advanced Chat Privacy to boost your privacy even more over the coming months, so keep checking back here on my Forbes page for updates.