WhatsApp could let users hide their online status soon

Tired of everyone bothering you on WhatsApp? Soon, you’ll be able to use the app without anyone even knowing about it.

As spotted by the WhatsApp news site WABetaInfo, the incredibly popular messaging app’s developers are working on a new feature that would enable users to hide their online status. In other words, the little in-app indicator that you’re online could be switched off, enabling a more stealthy way to use the app.

This goes hand-in-hand with another recent round of privacy updates on WhatsApp, which included the ability to dictate who could see when you were last online. According to the beta feature WABetaInfo found, you would be able to mirror that list to your online status, meaning the same people you trust to see your “last seen” indicator would be the same people who could see when you’re currently using the app.

The applications for this feature are numerous and obvious. Sometimes you just want to log into a service without other people knowing it. Maybe you don’t want to talk to anyone and you just want to check a certain message log, or maybe you’re trying to actively avoid an annoying family member or even a harasser. It’s honestly a little surprising WhatsApp didn’t already have the ability to use the app in stealth mode, but better late than never.

Now, time for every other app to add this feature, too.