New WhatsApp features: How they work

Messaging platform WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy checkup feature for its users, to guide them through their privacy settings in choosing the right level of protection.

In its latest updates, the Meta owned company added more features to enhance its services.

"Introducing Privacy Checkup. Take control of what you share and who you share it with," the social media application announced on November 10.

The feature, privacy checkup allows users to choose their security preference by providing guidelines on how to strengthen overall security of their account and customising privacy settings in one location.

WhatsApp users will be able to choose to control their contacts, block unwanted calls and messages, and silence unknown callers.

The user will also have freedom to control those who view their status and activity and even choose who to view their profile photo, last seen, online status and manage read receipts.

The privacy Checkup feature further allows users to restrict access to their messages and media by managing the default message timer and end-to-end encrypted backups.

Users can now use the fingerprint lock and two-step verification control.

How to Use WhatsApp Privacy Checkup

The user has to tap on settings on the app, then click on privacy and click start checkup at the top of the screen.

Next, users are required to adjust the privacy settings for each section by tapping on the respective options.

WhatsApp communities

The messaging app has also introduced communities, a feature that allows users to consolidate groups and sub-group members in one space.

A user can create a community for people that he or she shares common interest with in the contacts, family or work.

Communities consist of admins and group members whereby admins are allowed to create communities with up to 50 groups with up to 5,000 members.

However, only Admins are allowed to send messages in the announcements group to notify all team members.

Additionally, members' phone numbers are hidden from the community at large and only visible to community admins.

On the new WhatsApp updates, a three-person icon represents a new communities tab.

WhatsApp protects all messages with end-to-end encryption so that only the members of the respective groups can see them and no one else.

To open a WhatsApp Community, one can tap on the new community tab at the top of your chats on your phone.

Second, enter the community name, description, and profile photo then add groups.

After adding groups, click the green check mark icon to create your community.

You can then invite new members, add more groups, or post your first announcement welcoming everyone to the new community.

All the community group members will receive an alert for your message instantly.

Community admins can remove anyone from a group, but the member remains in the Announcement group until you remove them.