WhatsApp Rolls Out Context Card : WhatsApp began rolling out new features on Tuesday to make its group messaging feature more secure. The meta messaging platform now displays text information for users added to groups by anonymous users. This feature is intended to provide WhatsApp users with relevant information about the groups they have been added to, as well as a shortcut to leave the group. The service currently offers settings that prevent users from adding unknown people to groups.
Security background card for WhatsApp groups
According to details announced on Tuesday, WhatsApp will introduce new cards for group chats that will appear after a user who is not one of your contacts is added to a group. This card appears in the chat window and contains information about the group to give users context about the group.
A new context card in group chats will prominently display the names of WhatsApp users you’ve added to the group. If you look at a sample screenshot of how this feature works, you can see that the name specified by the user is displayed on the card. This is the name that appears with a ~ sign (~) when an anonymous user posts a message in a group chat.
Users are also informed that they have been “added to the group by a non-contact.” The context card also displays the name of the user who created the group for new members. Of course, the name depends on what the creator of the group has added in their WhatsApp settings.
When a user is added to a group that they do not want to be a part of, the context card includes a security tool option to report problematic content. Users will also be presented with an “Leave Group” button that allows them to leave the conversation if they do not wish to participate.
Group security measures available on WhatsApp
In 2019, WhatsApp introduced a useful option under Settings > Accounts > Privacy > Groups that allows users to prevent strangers from being added to groups via the app’s privacy settings. When enabled, users will receive an invitation to join the group if someone outside of their contact list wants to add them to the group.
After a user is invited to a group, they have permission for three days before it expires. The invitation appears as a direct message and the user is not added to the group until they tap the Join Group button in the invitation. This may be the best option for users who want to prevent anonymous users from being automatically added to a group but still want to allow members to join after reviewing the details of the group and its members.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
