I recently came across a WhatsApp status from someone we’re in the same group with, even though we’ve never interacted. It confused me because I thought we had both saved each other’s numbers.
Turns out that’s not how it works. You do not need to have each other’s contacts saved to see a status in some cases.
WhatsApp, the Meta-owned platform, has admitted it is running a small test that lets users share their status updates with all the people they’ve saved in their phone’s contacts, even when those contacts that have not saved the user back.
Users concerned about privacy loss noticed the feature and raised questions with the messaging platform on X.
“We’re running a small test where people can share their status with people they’ve saved in their contacts, including those who haven’t saved them yet,” WhatsApp responded to concerned users.
Visibility for status updates has always relied on the intersection of both parties’ address books. This test broadens sharing to all contacts a user has saved, even when those contacts haven’t added the user themselves.
WhatsApp says the experiment is limited in scope while it assesses user response and any potential privacy implications.
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The messaging platform maintains that this feature, in its trial phase, does not alter the app’s existing privacy controls. “Your status privacy hasn’t changed – if it’s set to be visible only to your contacts, they’re the only ones who can see it,” WhatsApp added.
Users who want more restrictive visibility can continue to rely on the Status privacy settings by choosing either My Contacts, My Contacts Except, or Only Share With to control exactly who sees their updates.
The company did not say when or whether the new feature will roll out more widely.
