WhatsApp, a messaging social media program owned by Meta, has added a new function that enables users to get status updates from unsaved phone numbers, making it simpler to keep track of updates from recent encounters.
Some beta testers have access to this feature, and over the next few days, additional users will be able to utilize it, according to WABetaInfo. With the help of this tool, users can now establish new connections with individuals they have recently engaged with.
Phone numbers participating in recent conversations or calls can now see status updates on WhatsApp. The tilde (~) that appears before a contact’s name and phone number in the status interface tells users that the update was provided from a recent conversation with a phone number that isn’t recorded in their contacts.
It is important to note that WhatsApp has implemented this functionality covertly without making an official announcement within the app. WhatsApp may provide an introductory screen to explain how users receive status updates from unknown phone numbers.
If unknown contacts are saved in the address book, users can get status updates from them. To enable the app to provide the status update, they must have recently messaged or called. The opening screen explains that your status updates’ privacy has not changed despite this update.
You still have complete control over who can see your status at any one moment. If someone you haven’t stored in your address book sends you a status update, it indicates that they have your number in their contacts. Furthermore, users’ privacy settings and recent interactions—like messages or phone calls between the two users—determine whether a status is visible.
