Silent Exit: WhatsApp Will Soon Allow Users to Leave Unwanted Groups without Everyone's Knowledge
- WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will let users exit the group silently without alerting other members of the group
- Only admins will be able to see who exits the group when this is feature launched which will help most people find reprieve
- The app users have complained for years of being added in groups and unable to leave without making other people uncomfortable or raising an alarm
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WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you quietly leave a group chat without sending a notification to other members.
Source: UGC
WhatsApp users to enjoy quiet group exits in future
According to Daily Mail Online, the new feature was first spotted by independent WhatsApp experts WABetaInfo, which searches early beta versions of the app to identify upcoming features before they are released.
It clarified in a blog post that group admins will still be able to see who exits the group when the feature becomes available, but other members in the group won't.
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The new feature could prevent unnecessary arguments that arise especially in more sensitive groups where members might take one's exit badly.
Mark Zuckerberg first disclosed the company's plans to allow users to silently leave groups back in April when Meta announced the new Communities feature that lets one place several group chats together and message them all at the same time.
However, no details emerged from the company since the announcement was made.
WABetaInfo obtained a screenshot of a WhatsApp beta on a desktop that shows an exit prompt reading: 'Only you and group admins will be notified that you left the group.'
'This screenshot is very clear: when you want to exit a WhatsApp group, other people won’t be notified in the chat. Only group admins will be able to see who exits the group, but others don't," the company said in a blog post.
When one exits a group currently, WhatsApp adds a system message in the chat to inform all participants that you have left the group
The feature is planned to be rolled out to users 'in a future update', according to WABetaInfo, but no date has yet been given for the release.
List of smartphones no longer having WhatsApp
In a separate story, WhatsApp released a long list of 43 smartphones operating on Android and iOS which will no longer be available on its platform beginning November 2021.
Users will not be able to send messages and snaps or make video calls via the popular messaging service app.
Smartphone models with Android 4.0.4 or earlier installed will become incompatible with WhatsApp.
Source: Briefly News
Maryn Blignaut (Human-Interest HOD) Maryn Blignaut is the Human Interest manager and feature writer. She holds a BA degree in Communication Science, which she obtained from the University of South Africa in 2016. She joined the Briefly - South African News team shortly after graduating and has over six years of experience in the journalism field. Maryn passed the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course (Google News Initiative), as well as a set of trainings for journalists by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at: maryn.blignaut@briefly.co.za
Kelly Lippke (Senior Editor) Kelly Lippke is a copy editor/proofreader who started her career at the Northern-Natal Courier with a BA in Communication Science/Psychology (Unisa, 2007). Kelly has worked for several Caxton publications, including the Highway Mail and Northglen News. Kelly’s unique editing perspective stems from an additional major in Linguistics. Kelly joined Briefly News in 2018 and she has 14 years of experience. Kelly has also passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at kelly.lippke@briefly.co.za.
