To think if you don't want to be added to WhatsApp group you should set your account up accordingly?

[MoiraNotRuby]

I've noticed on a few threads people saying they are private over their phone number and don't want to be added to WhatsApp groups without being asked first.

If you are one of these people, did you know that you can change your settings to limit who can add you to groups? That way you will be invited rather than added. So much simpler than getting pissed off about people.

[Xmassprout]

I didn't know that, it's only simple if you know how.

Do you know what else is really simple? Asking someone if they would like to be added to a group before doing so

[MotionActivatedDog]

I didn’t know this either! Off to investigate.

[Rubyrecka]

I didn't realise there was WhatsApp etiquette. Surely they can just leave the group!

[caughtinanet]

Presumably they don't know or they wouldn't be having the problem would they

Not everyone knows all the settings on every app they use

[CakeWarrior]

Ive just been through the settings and cant see any option for this or would have done it a long time ago

[caughtinanet]

@CakeWarrior

Ive just been through the settings and cant see any option for this or would have done it a long time ago

I have an android phone @CakeWarrior and for me it's in settings/privacy/groups - easy to find but might not be for other phones

[caughtinanet]

Sorry @CakeWarrior account after settings

[CakeWarrior]

Aah i have an iphone, will google as had no idea this could be done. Thankyou x

[daisypond]

I didn’t know this. Am off to investigate. But I would think it very rude to automatically be added to any WhatsApp group without my say-so.

[yoursfroobly]

Hmm OP please could you let us know how to do this on iPhone? I think it's clear from the thread not everybody knew about this function

[RightYesButNo]

@CakeWarrior @yoursfroobly I’m on an iPhone. For iPhone WhatsApp: at the bottom right is Settings. Once there, click Accounts, then Privacy. In Privacy, you’ll see the attached list. When you click groups, you can change it so it goes from everyone to only your contacts or no one (meaning you must always be invited by anyone). All the other sections listed are the same, for example, if you want people to not see when you’ve “Last seen” messages.
HTH (sincerely; not in a sarcastic way).

[yoursfroobly]

Ah ha!! Thank you @RightYesButNo

[tttigress]

I am getting totally sick of being forced to be in many WhatsApp groups.

Surely it should be set be default that you can't be automatically added. I find it odd OP that you don't blame the company whatsa/Facebook who set their security policies as wide open as possible to make more money.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

My aetting only offers choice
-everyone
-my contacts
-my contacts except

It doesn't offer overall ban on adding, unless I missed it

[RightYesButNo]

@SchrodingersImmigrant When you pull up “My contacts except”, there’s an option on the bottom right to “Select All.” @yoursfroobly @CakeWarrior This is important info if you don’t want contacts to be able to add you either. “Select all” and then if there are only one or two you want to let add you without asking (like siblings maybe), you can deselect them by hand. Otherwise, click “done” in the top left.

[RightYesButNo]

Sorry, “done” is top right. Wish we had an edit button.

[ChicChaos]

There is a setting in security to stop people adding you to WhatsApp groups. Yes you can leave the group but if you are added to a group it means your phone number has been sent to all the participants.

Do not add people to WhatsApp groups without their prior permission. So bloody annoying. I assume the OP is one of those people who sets up a group and then can't understand why someone is annoyed at being added

[RandomLondoner]

I didn't realise there was WhatsApp etiquette. Surely they can just leave the group!

If you leave the group, it puts up a message saying you've left the group. So you can't really leave a group without letting everyone know that you hate them and want nothing to do with them. (Well, maybe that's not how it will be interpreted, but you have no control over how the message you didn't as to be displayed will be interpreted.)

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Thanks @RightYesButNo!

[RightYesButNo]

I voted YABU for one very clear reason. Most apps ask you to make certain choices during set up. I mean, WhatsApp asks you to add a profile picture and access your contacts, etc. Funnily enough, they DON’T ask about how you want to run all your privacy settings, or even what the options are. They easily could. Many people may not (or they may) know that WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, and they profit from you being accessible to the most amount of people. If people (often scammers) download Whatsapp by the 1000s because it gives them access to a huge amount of potential targets, well, Facebook doesn’t really care.

[WildFlowerBees]

I wish there was a way to stop being seen when you're online. I have my settings set to no one can see when I was last online but it does irk me that everyone knows when you're online with Whataspp

[MotionActivatedDog]

I would like it to be possible to leave a WhatsApp group or FB messenger group without everyone in the group seeing it.

[Attheheart]

My life is undeniably richer because of groups I've been added to just because someone wanted to include me. I can always leave if it doesn't suit, butnoften without someone adding me I wouldn't even know it exists.

Why is it a problem to be added to something a friend thinks you might be interested in? You don't have stay.

[MotionActivatedDog]

Why is it a problem to be added to something a friend thinks you might be interested in? You don't have stay.

Well for me the issue is that adding me to a group ok WhatsApp means that everyone else on that group instantly had my phone number. Even if I leave the group- my number remains visible. I don’t like that aspect of it.

[littleducks]

I have it set so my contacts can at me to groups. I expect themt o exercise judgement and either ask or send me an invitation to be added to a group I wouldn't expect (like if they were stalking my son on a trip to town with his mates )