# Messaging app privacy and visibility features

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/messaging-app-privacy-and-visibility-features
> Updated: 2026-08-21T15:30:16.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Messaging platforms, specifically WhatsApp and Telegram, provide various tools to enhance user digital privacy by managing activity signals.

On WhatsApp, users can adjust settings to hide their ‘last seen’ timestamp, ‘online’ status, and profile photos. Other privacy features include archiving conversations, silencing chats, and disabling read receipts. Users can also identify potential blocks by observing indicators such as the disappearance of a profile photo, the inability to see connection times, messages remaining with a single checkmark, or the inability to place voice calls.

Telegram offers similar functionality, allowing users to hide their last seen and online status to prevent third parties from tracking connection patterns. While hiding one’s own status generally prevents seeing the status of others, Telegram Premium users retain the ability to see others' activity. Both platforms allow users to grant specific exceptions to certain contacts.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: WhatsApp and Telegram offer privacy tools to hide connection status

WhatsApp and Telegram provide privacy settings that allow users to hide their last seen status, online activity, and read receipts to enhance personal security and digital privacy.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-and-telegram-offer-privacy-tools-to-hide-connection-status

### 2026-08-19: WhatsApp privacy settings and blocking indicators

Users can manage WhatsApp privacy by hiding online status and last seen timestamps, while several indicators can help identify if a contact has blocked them.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-privacy-settings-and-blocking-indicators

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Cite as: Messaging app privacy and visibility features. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/messaging-app-privacy-and-visibility-features