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Original poster

THIS IS A TOTAL GAME CHANGER SURELY

269 replies

isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 22:54

Whatsapp has now provided an update whereby users can hide their 'online' status. This is honestly brilliant and a long time coming.

I have just breathed an audible sigh of relief knowing that being seen online won't cause issues for me in the future now.

What does this mean though for cheating spouses and partners who were caught out, in part, because they were seen online at odd hours or only ever online when they were locked in the bathroom? Interesting one...

Plays right into the hands of philanderers doesn't it...

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:56

LuciferRising · 04/11/2022 23:51

I've never noticed someone being online before. What did it look like?

I will help you out. It looked like... 'online'.

Dyageddit?

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:57

Underanothersky · 04/11/2022 23:43

They need better boundaries then.

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Yes I am inclined to agree, to an extent. But boundaries are more difficult for some than others to set and reinforce.

OP posts:
LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 04/11/2022 23:58

isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:53

You are not being thick. I will explain.

Say you and I are married or in a relationship @LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet , and you see that I am 'online' during strange hours of the night (perhaps I am working away, or we have separate bedrooms, don't live together, or whatever) then it might(!) be an indicator of an affair / cheating.

Similarly, if you noticed that I am online for very long periods of time and not replying to you and I don't necessarily use WhatsApp for work then you may well wonder who I could be speaking to, particularly if I am not replying to you. It indicates an ongoing conversation. And at odd hours that can seem fishy to some. Obviously other circumstances and contexts need to be considered, in the round.

Then if you happen to notice that every time I am in the bathroom / using the loo (door locked) I am online for a long period of time but do not seem to be using my phone much when I am in closer proximity to you then that could also indicate cheating.

This may seem OTT / unlikely / alarming to some, but there are a great number of people who have discovered their partner cheating because of the online status.

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TBH I’d dump you for being a paranoid stalker 😂

surreygirl1987 · 04/11/2022 23:58

Bigger game changer is that you can now leave a group silently!! 🙌 I've been on mute for almost 2 years on a group I want to leave 🤦‍♀️

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:59

Unicorn2022 · 04/11/2022 23:49

@SomethingVexesThee a lot of messages are looking for volunteers to chaperone kids for netball, make cakes to sell or other time critical stuff, or asking questions unfortunately related to my line of work so I try to read as little as possible. My kids get sent texts from their friends saying my mum says please can you ask your mum to read her WhatsApps

Ah yes, a classic WhatsApp etiquette breach this!

I have a friend who will message me ON LINKEDIN and say 'check WhatsApp'

NOOOO THANK YOUUUU

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:59

ForestDad · 04/11/2022 23:49

(Forest dad is typing)
Thanks OP for the info and engaging in the thread, very funny!

I mean you are welcome, I guess :) But I have not been trying to making things funny.

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:00

surreygirl1987 · 04/11/2022 23:58

Bigger game changer is that you can now leave a group silently!! 🙌 I've been on mute for almost 2 years on a group I want to leave 🤦‍♀️

YES. This is excellent too, I agree!

OP posts:
LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 05/11/2022 00:00

surreygirl1987 · 04/11/2022 23:58

Bigger game changer is that you can now leave a group silently!! 🙌 I've been on mute for almost 2 years on a group I want to leave 🤦‍♀️

Yes I love this!!

Im on the PTA and they make groups uk called ‘school disco’ and ‘Xmas crafts’ - now they’re a good bunch in the PTA but they continue to post in these groups AFTER the event, things like memes and funny jokes. I put them on silence but feel bad about leaving as it’s basically telling the people who post “you’re not funny and I’m sick of you”

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 05/11/2022 00:00

Oh OP, there's no telling some people 🤦🏻‍♀️ I've just changed it... thanks!

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:00

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 04/11/2022 23:58

TBH I’d dump you for being a paranoid stalker 😂

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I would dump me too.

But more would hire me as a PI, so there's that.

OP posts:
MistyRock · 05/11/2022 00:00

isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:55

I simply... cannot help you.

Please do your own research or ask others.

I am simply not paid enough for all this unpaid labour of educating those who are cognitively compromised.

And may the universe have mercy upon you.

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😂🤣

LucyLongLegsKitten · 05/11/2022 00:01

determinedtomakethiswork · 04/11/2022 23:00

It's been around for years!

This, it’s old news.
You’ll be telling us that the hole in a serving spoon is for measuring spaghetti next, slight yawn

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:01

Cactusprick · 04/11/2022 23:52

It’s not similar though.

Always one who has to come on and accuse someone of patronising someone else. Well I’m on the OP’s side. If anyone’s been rude, it’s the posters who have either ignored or argued against subsequent posts where the OP has had to explain over and over how this is an entirely new feature.

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THANK YOU @Cactusprick -- you are right, there is always one, or in this case a handful.

These people are quite... tiring.

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:02

LucyLongLegsKitten · 05/11/2022 00:01

This, it’s old news.
You’ll be telling us that the hole in a serving spoon is for measuring spaghetti next, slight yawn

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You are wrong. It is not old news. It is a new feature.

Good lord.

OP posts:
Pocodaku · 05/11/2022 00:02

isitanoaktree · 04/11/2022 23:07

Yes indeed! I feel relieved in all honesty! No more WhatsApp induced anxiety!

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Yes it’s the update I’ve been waiting for too! But even if you hide your online status, I believe it will still show ‘typing’ when you’re writing a message. Unless I’ve misread the original article I read.

LikeTearsInRain · 05/11/2022 00:04

ITT a bunch of middle age tech illiterates argue that a new feature is in fact not new

It is new. Please accept it. You could see the big word ‘Online’ under a contacts name if you were in your chat with them and they are online on WhatsApp in any form - reading your chat, reading another chat etc

This can now be disabled so people can’t see. Therefore people can’t figure that you’re ignoring them and deliberately leaving messages unread or are getting on with other chats but leaving theirs on blue tick etc

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:05

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 05/11/2022 00:00

Yes I love this!!

Im on the PTA and they make groups uk called ‘school disco’ and ‘Xmas crafts’ - now they’re a good bunch in the PTA but they continue to post in these groups AFTER the event, things like memes and funny jokes. I put them on silence but feel bad about leaving as it’s basically telling the people who post “you’re not funny and I’m sick of you”

Show quote history

Just tell them, then. "You're not funny and I'm sick of you. You are depleting my goodwill AND my energy reserves".

No ambiguity then.

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:06

LucyLongLegsKitten · 05/11/2022 00:01

This, it’s old news.
You’ll be telling us that the hole in a serving spoon is for measuring spaghetti next, slight yawn

Show quote history

Kindly... its multiple holes. not one hole. And it is for draining / straining, not measuring.

You and the spaghetti spoon have a similar mandate it seems...

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:07

Pocodaku · 05/11/2022 00:02

Yes it’s the update I’ve been waiting for too! But even if you hide your online status, I believe it will still show ‘typing’ when you’re writing a message. Unless I’ve misread the original article I read.

Show quote history

Yes I think you are right and that it does still show that you are typing. Can't win them all I suppose. Hopefully that feature will also be dumped in time!

OP posts:
Starpop · 05/11/2022 00:07

Woohoo! Cheers OP! You've made my day!

I've been wanting this feature for ages, made me so frustrated you could hide your last seen but not your "online" status. Definitely found it anxiety inducing that people could see when I was online. Sometimes you just don't want to reply to a message straight away!

Im also ashamed to admit in the past I've definitely been one for obsessing over a current or ex partner being online. So would have been useful not to have been able to see that they were.

Didn't know they'd released this update, but chufty pants that they have. Thank you for posting I've swiftly changed mine :)

EmmaAgain22 · 05/11/2022 00:08

LikeTearsInRain · 05/11/2022 00:04

ITT a bunch of middle age tech illiterates argue that a new feature is in fact not new

It is new. Please accept it. You could see the big word ‘Online’ under a contacts name if you were in your chat with them and they are online on WhatsApp in any form - reading your chat, reading another chat etc

This can now be disabled so people can’t see. Therefore people can’t figure that you’re ignoring them and deliberately leaving messages unread or are getting on with other chats but leaving theirs on blue tick etc

I never saw that, presumably because all my status was set to hidden?

I haven't got a clue what goes on with tech but have never seen anyone online or typing, unless I just put it in the "visual clutter" box. But I was chatting on there a lot the last two weeks as I've been ill and don't remember it.

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:08

LikeTearsInRain · 05/11/2022 00:04

ITT a bunch of middle age tech illiterates argue that a new feature is in fact not new

It is new. Please accept it. You could see the big word ‘Online’ under a contacts name if you were in your chat with them and they are online on WhatsApp in any form - reading your chat, reading another chat etc

This can now be disabled so people can’t see. Therefore people can’t figure that you’re ignoring them and deliberately leaving messages unread or are getting on with other chats but leaving theirs on blue tick etc

This x 10,000,000.

I appreciate other voices contributing to this thread so that I do not have to field stupidity single handedly.

OP posts:
Hollypups · 05/11/2022 00:09

Don’t see why it’s a ‘game changer’ … it will make no difference to my usage and I don’t care if someone can see I’m online and ignoring them.

Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:10

Starpop · 05/11/2022 00:07

Woohoo! Cheers OP! You've made my day!

I've been wanting this feature for ages, made me so frustrated you could hide your last seen but not your "online" status. Definitely found it anxiety inducing that people could see when I was online. Sometimes you just don't want to reply to a message straight away!

Im also ashamed to admit in the past I've definitely been one for obsessing over a current or ex partner being online. So would have been useful not to have been able to see that they were.

Didn't know they'd released this update, but chufty pants that they have. Thank you for posting I've swiftly changed mine :)

Chufty pants, I like that that.

Don't be ashamed to admit what you have done about obsessing over the online status of a current partner or ex. Many people have been there before but many will deny they have.

I certainly have. It can cause an absolute spiral of anxiety, I get that.

Another reason why the new feature is fab.

OP posts:
Original poster
isitanoaktree · 05/11/2022 00:10

Hollypups · 05/11/2022 00:09

Don’t see why it’s a ‘game changer’ … it will make no difference to my usage and I don’t care if someone can see I’m online and ignoring them.

Yawn.

OP posts:
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