WhatsApp adds a secret way to tag contacts in Status updates
Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Explainer
Official statement
New plan
- WhatsApp users can privately mention up to five contacts in photo or video Status updates.
- Mentioned contacts receive direct notifications, while other viewers cannot see who was tagged.
- A tagged person can view the Status even when the sender’s privacy settings would normally prevent access.
WhatsApp has introduced a discreet way to draw someone’s attention to a Status update without letting everyone else know.
The feature applies to the service’s temporary posts, which can contain photos, videos or text and disappear after 24 hours. After updating WhatsApp to its latest version, users can create a Status from the Updates tab, tap the at-sign icon in the lower-right corner, and select up to five contacts.
Once the post goes live, each selected person receives a direct notification leading to the Status. Other viewers are not told who was mentioned. The privacy continues if the tagged person reshares the Status on their own profile, since the identities of the other mentioned contacts remain hidden.
Being mentioned also overrides the sender’s usual Status visibility settings for that contact. A tagged person can therefore see the post even if they would normally be unable to view the sender’s updates.
About this summary
Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
More Stories
From Our Blog
News in Translation: What Gets Lost, and How We Keep the Framing
Diaspora Media: How Communities Follow News From Home
Traveling Where the Press Is Not Free: How to Read the News There
The Digital Nomad's Guide to Local News
The Same Story, Different Countries: How Coverage Changes at the Border
