Ignoring WhatsApp messages is easy—until someone confronts you for being online.

All that could be about to change thanks to an upcoming WhatsApp update which will let you hide your online status from select contacts.

According to eagle-eyed WhatsApp watchers at WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp team is working on a new addition its beta programme which will let you choose who can see when you're online on the encrypted messaging app.

READ NEXT: 3D-printed Swiss 'marshmallow' house could be Elon Musk's dream Mars home

This feature is reportedly set to appear in a future version of the optional WhatsApp beta, and could one day be rolled out to all WhatsApp users if it proves successful.

WABetaInfo explained: "WhatsApp plans to introduce a new section within Privacy Settings > Last Seen. In this section, you will be able to decide who can see when you're online thanks to two options: everyone and 'same as last seen'.

"[…] For example, when people cannot see your last seen [status] because you chose 'nobody' or 'my contacts except', they won't be able to see when you're online."

Once introduced, the ability to hide your WhatsApp online status will be one of several new privacy features designed to give you more control over the app.

• 

  Apple to pay Mac owners up to £250 each after making the 'worst keyboard ever'

WhatsApp is reportedly set to extend the period of time in which you can 'unsend' messages, a tool that was introduced last year, through an update to its beta programme.

Currently, you only have a 1-day window to do this, but the popular chat app looks set to extend it to 2 days and 12 hours.

WABetaInfo added: "We just tried to delete a message sent yesterday and it worked! We can also confirm that the new time limit is really 2 days and 12 hours, the same one that was planned during the development of the feature."

READ MORE:

• Dodgy scam apps could 'Photoshop your face onto porn' and send it to your family
• Facebook lets you turn off posts from people you don't care about with major update
• Hit new 'Stray' cat game wows players by letting them lick themselves in sci-fi world
• Disabled Twitch streamer plays Xbox and PS5 with his feet and 'often beats' pro gamers
• 'Terrifying' robot dog guns down targets with a rifle

Source: Read Full Article