WhatsApp is working on a feature to ask users permission before joining a group

The latest is the option WhatsApp is giving users to choose whether to be included in groups by others or not. Under the existing arrangement, anyone could add you into their a WhatsApp group. You could exit the group on your own or mute the group. But now, if someone wants to add your number to a group, they will have to seek your permission first.

But this feature is only available on the WhatsApp Beta version and that too on iOS devices only. WhatsApp will regularise the feature later after the function is tested on the beta versions.

The new feature allows the users to set the WhatsApp settings by following the route: Settings>>Account>>Privacy>>Groups

Here under Groups, you will find the option of ‘Who can add me to groups’ and there are three choices here:

The first option is what everyone has now. In the second option, those in your phone’s contact list will have the permission to add your name to any group they may form. But if you choose the last one, Nobody, then the group admin will have to send you an invitation to join the group which will be kept open for 72 hours. If you don’t take any action on the invitation, then it lapses.

Another update coming up is the facility to archive group chats as well. This is another step taken by WhatsApp to bring WhatsApp Business to iOS users of the messaging apps. It is already working for Android users. Using this facility, businesses are permitted to be in touch with the consumers on the WhatsApp platform. This may involve them sending out periodical messages on new launches or other information. This may also be left to the users to control so that it does not become a privacy issue later. The universal release of this feature may be done in due course.