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WhatsApp users want more privacy features.
Credit : kovop, Shutterstock
WhatsApp is a tool we all use more often than we like to admit. It’s the app we open before we even get out of bed, the one we check while we’re supposedly watching a film, and the way we stay connected to everyone – from our closest friends to that neighbour who still hasn’t returned our lawnmower.
It can be exhausting to always be available.
When those two blue ticks show up, you are under a silent obligation to reply. They may wonder why you aren’t responding to their message when they see you online. Even the “last-seen” timestamp is a source of unwanted drama. So sometimes, all we want is to scroll through messages in peace – without a digital spotlight following our every move.
WhatsApp has a button called “Share” that is not officially labeled. Invisible ModeIt does have a variety of privacy settings which allow you to slip under the radar, and use the application quietly on your terms.
Here’s how it works – and why thousands of people are now choosing to go invisible.
Staying under the radar: How to activate WhatsApp’s ‘invisible mode’
You don’t have to be a hacker. Just a few simple tweaks that take seconds…
Turn off the blue ticks
The classic giveaway is the double blue ticks, which tell people that you have read their message.
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Read receipts → switch off
Once disabled, you can read anything without guilt — although you also won’t see when others have read your messages. It’s a fair exchange for a little freedom.
Hide the “Last seen” and “online” status
It’s the big one. No more questions like:
“I saw you were online – why didn’t you respond?”
- Settings → Privacy → Last seen & online
→ select Nobody
What you do in WhatsApp remains on WhatsApp.
Who can see your profile picture?
This is an effective barrier to strangers and unknown numbers trying to contact you.
- Settings → Privacy → Profile photo
→ choose My contacts or Nobody
Instant privacy upgrade.
Use disappearing messages
Sometimes you want chats to exist only in the moment – not as a permanent archive.
- Open any chat → tap the name → Disappearing messages
→ choose 24 hours / 7 days / 90 days
This is great for conversations that you don’t wish to linger or reappear months later.
Why people are becoming invisible
We’re living in an age where everything is fast – especially communication.
This speed can be accompanied by:
- Pressure to respond immediately
- When you need a few moments, it’s easy to make a mistake.
- Unwanted tracking your habits
- Constant notifications of alerts can lead to emotional exhaustion
WhatsApp makes a surprising amount information available by default. Your activity can speak for you even if your are not responding.
We’ve lost something when we become “invisible”, namely the ability to disconnect without explanation.
These settings have become a way for many to take care of themselves digitally. The message is quiet: “I’ll respond when I’m ready.” Not when the phone says to.
Privacy in an Always-On World
WhatsApp is hugely popular because it is simple and accessible – you just need someone’s number to start a conversation. It also means that anyone can contact you at any moment.
WhatsApp deserves credit for its continued improvement of its privacy tools. These give users greater control over who can see what. It is our responsibility to make the most of these tools.
Being online shouldn’t make you feel like you’re performing. Everyone deserves a bit of breathing space.
Next time you want to be able to read a text message without being interrogated, activate these settings. Stay in touch – but only when you feel like it.
Being invisible doesn’t mean you are rude. It’s sometimes just healthy.
