WhatsApp is preparing to introduce a new privacy feature that gives users greater control over how their Status updates are shared.
Currently available in the beta version of the app for Android, the feature introduces an “Allow sharing” option that lets users decide whether and with whom their Status updates can be reshared.
This update builds on the existing functionality where users tagged in a Status can reshare it. With the new toggle, users will be able to grant or deny permission for their Status to be forwarded or reshared beyond its initial audience.
The idea is to strike a balance between private sharing and broader distribution, especially useful for users who want to share announcements, events, or promotional content more widely but with limits.
To use the feature, users can upload a Status as usual, then navigate to the “Status viewers” section where the new “Allow sharing” option appears.
When turned on, users can choose specific contacts who are allowed to reshare or forward that Status. Once shared, the content can appear in another user’s Status or be sent in a message, but with one important catch: all personal identifiers, such as name, profile photo, and phone number, are stripped out.
This ensures the original poster’s privacy is maintained, even as their content is redistributed.
WhatsApp will also notify the original creator when their Status has been shared by someone else. This additional layer of transparency helps users keep track of how their content is moving through the platform, offering peace of mind without compromising reach.
The feature is expected to be especially useful for creators, businesses, and community organizers who use WhatsApp to share time-sensitive or widely relevant updates. It empowers them to widen their message’s impact while keeping control over how it spreads.
While the feature is still in beta testing, it suggests WhatsApp’s ongoing push to give users more granular control over their privacy and content visibility. A wider rollout is anticipated in the coming weeks, beginning with Android users before reaching iOS.
