How To Stop People From Adding You To Annoying WhatsApp Groups

Many a times I’ve heard people complain about having no control over the groups their WhatsApp contacts add them to, whether it’s that cringy old highschool group or an annoying meme group that is unrealistically ever active.

Well, WhatsApp has now has rolled out new ways for users to stop people adding them to group chats without their permission. “Today, we’re introducing a new privacy setting and invite system to help you decide who can add you to groups.”

‘As people turn to groups for important conversations, users have asked for more control over their experience,’ a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

Here’s how to go about it;

• Head over to WhatsApp settings section of the app, then Account > Privacy > Groups.
• There, you’ll find three options – Everyone, My Contacts, or My Contacts Except.

My Contacts means only users you have in your contacts book can add you to a group which to be honest is like the default selection right now anyway. My Contacts Except lets you pinpoint particular users who you know to be very guilty of adding you to these groups.

“In those cases, an admin who can’t add you to a group will be prompted to send a private invite through an individual chat, giving you the choice of joining the group… You’ll have three days to accept the invite before it expires.”

The update is available from today on both iOS and Android.