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– My Contact Except… (same as above but you can exclude individual accounts.)Īs soon as these new settings were introduced in 2019, the default option was Everyone (as such, no different to how WhatsApp operated prior to these settings existing.)įor optimal privacy, it is recommended to select My Contacts instead. These new settings would allow users to choose who could add them to groups. The settings were publicised by WhatsApp on its blog. However due to customer feedback, a new set of privacy settings were introduced in April 2019 that could allow users to have more control over who can invite them into groups. Prior to 2019, anyone could invite anyone else to a WhatsApp messaging group, providing they had their phone number. It is pertinent to note that a person adding you to a group would still need to have your phone number. What’s misleading or perhaps unclear is the assertion in the messages above that anyone can add you to a WhatsApp group. There has been no recent or “overnight” change. In fact, these particular privacy options were introduced back in 2019, and the “everyone” option has always been the default option. What’s false? The claim that this is all down to some recent settings change by WhatsApp. What’s true? The messages above are describing a real privacy setting in WhatsApp, and the instructions provided in the messages genuinely do describe how to change this setting to a more secure alternative.
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Liverpool Crimewatch have advised your WhatsApp settings have changed overnight… Whatsapp updated your settings last night!!!
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This is not a joke… I’ve just updated mine Just copied from a friend – I checked mine and yep it had included everyone! I have checked mine & all settings had been changed to everyone instead of my contacts You can change its default settings as follows:Ħ. These people may include scam messages, loan Sharks, etc. WhatsApp has changed its group settings to include “everyone” by default so people you don’t know can add you to a group without your knowing. The message purports to show instructions on how to change this.Įxamples of the message as it appears on social media are below – Please note that articles on this site may contain affiliate links.Ī message spreading on social media claims that due to recent changes to WhatsApp privacy settings, users can now be invited to join WhatsApp groups by anybody.
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