If you’re chatting with a friend on WhatsApp and have suddenly noticed that their last seen time had updated, this can be confusing.
It could be that they sent you a message, but when you go to reply, it looks like they haven’t been active in days.
If you’ve ever wondered what the “last seen” feature on WhatsApp is all about, then that’s what we’re going to look at today.
Overview of WhatsApp Last Seen Feature
WhatsApp Last Seen is a feature that allows users to view when their contacts were last active on the app.
This feature can be enabled or disabled by individual users, but it remains one of WhatsApp’s most popular functions.
When Last Seen is activated, other users will be able to see when you were last active on the app in two ways: as an exact time stamp and/or as ‘online’ if your device was connected to the internet less than seven minutes ago.
This means that if someone sends you a message, they will know exactly when you have read it because of this timestamp feature.
The ability to turn off Last Seen, however, is great for those who prefer more privacy while using the app.
With this function turned off, no one (not even people in your contact list) will be able to see when you were last online or if you have read their messages – unless they are included in group chats with you where all members can see each other’s activity status regardless of privacy settings.
In addition to having control over who sees your activity status, WhatsApp also provides additional security measures.
This includes encryption, which ensures that only people involved in conversations can access them, and end-to-end encryption, which secures group calls from being intercepted by anyone outside of the callers’ devices.
All these features help keep user data secure and private while still allowing users to stay connected with others through messaging and video calls without fear of having their information exposed or misused.
What Does it Mean When Someone is “Last Seen” on WhatsApp?
When someone is “last seen” on WhatsApp, it means they have recently been active on the messaging app.
This status will be visible to other users and can be found in their contact information or next to their name in group conversations.
It is a simple way of indicating that someone has been online within a certain period of time, usually within 24 hours or less.
WhatsApp also offers an optional “Read Receipts” feature which would let people know when you’ve read their message, as opposed to simply telling them you were last seen online.
Read receipts can be enabled for individual contacts or for all of your conversations at once if desired.
How to Change Your “Last Seen” Status on WhatsApp
If you’re an avid WhatsApp user, chances are that you’ve seen people who have changed their “last seen” status.
This can be a great way to add a layer of privacy and control to your messaging even if it’s only temporary.
Here is how you can change your “last seen” status on WhatsApp:
Step One: Launch the app and tap Settings from the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down until you find Account, then tap Privacy.
Step Two: You’ll notice several options such as Status, Profile Photo, Read Receipts and Last Seen. Tap Last Seen in order to change this setting.
Step Three: Now when you open up Last Seen there will be three options available for selection including Everyone (default setting), My Contacts or Nobody – allowing users ultimate control over who can see their last online activity.
- Everyone: Allows everyone on your contact list to view when was the last time that you were online.
- My Contacts: Only allows contacts whom are already saved in your phonebook/contacts list view when was the last time that you were online.
- Nobody : Disables anyone from viewing when was the last time that you were online.
For most users, it’s best practice to select either My Contacts or Nobody depending on personal preference so others cannot stalk them or pry into their private life without consent.
Safety Tips for Using the “Last Seen” Feature in WhatsApp
The “Last Seen” feature in WhatsApp offers users an added layer of security and privacy when communicating.
It can be used to detect whether or not someone has seen a message, or even if they are online at all.
However, it is important to use this feature responsibly and safely. Here are some tips for using the “Last Seen” feature on WhatsApp:
- Know who you’re talking with. Before sending any messages over WhatsApp, make sure that you know who you’re talking with. This will help prevent people from snooping into your conversations without your knowledge.
- Keep track of who’s viewing your messages. The “Last Seen” feature allows users to see when their messages have been viewed by other people. If someone is constantly viewing your messages without replying, it may be a good idea to block them from seeing them further.
- Be aware of the time difference. Depending on where you live, there may be a significant time difference between yourself and the person you’re messaging through WhatsApp. Make sure to take this into account when trying to gauge how long it has been since they last read your message.
It is also important to use caution when sharing sensitive information via the “Last Seen” feature in WhatsApp as well as other messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger or Skype.
