[imagesource: Reuters]

Everyone using WhatsApp has likely been in trouble at least once thanks to a certain feature.

But now that it’s become optional thanks to the messaging platform’s new update, we can all breathe a little easier knowing that there’s one less problem to worry about.

If you like, you can now say no thank you and goodbye to WhatsApp’s online status.

As IOL reports, WhatsApp enhancing its privacy and security features has been in the works for months. Now, updating WhatsApp will allow us all to select which contacts will be able to see our Profile Photo, About, and Last Seen status information within the app.

If you’ve used other control features and privacy options on the Meta-owned instant messenger, you should understand the new ‘Last seen’ and ‘online’ menu, which has four options:

Image: WikiHow

Selecting ‘Everyone’ will allow anyone, whether they’re your contact or not, to see your online status. ‘My Contacts’ will only allow those you’ve added as a contact to your phone or on WhatsApp to track your activity.

‘My contacts except…’ limits this to your selected contacts. Then, the ‘Nobody’ option allows you to hide your WhatsApp online status from everyone.

WhatsApp users using the Android app may already be finding relief with the much-anticipated veil of privacy, disabling their contacts from seeing whether they’re online or not.

The feature has rolled out more widely and should be available for all users. Just update WhatsApp through your app store, or keep checking for the update until the feature shows up.

Then, enjoy the peace this will bring.

[source:iol]