WhatsApp introduced a new safety feature, Context Card, to enhance group chat’ security.
WhatsApp’s Context Card feature is triggered when a user is added to a group by someone not in their contacts. This card is displayed prominently in the chat window and provides crucial information about the group, its members, and the user who added them.
The Context Card offers a quick overview, including the name of the group’s creator and the member who added them, marked with a tilde symbol (~) if the user is unknown. It also alerts the new members that they were “added by a non-contact,” increasing transparency and control over group interactions.
For those added to an unwanted group, the card includes safety tools to report inappropriate content directly from the group. Additionally, an ‘Exit group’ button allows users to leave the group swiftly if they choose not to participate.
WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to group safety was first demonstrated in 2019 with a privacy setting that prevents strangers from adding users to groups without consent. Instead, users receive an invitation that must be accepted within three days, allowing them to review the group’s details and decide if they wish to join. This setting ensures that users have full control over their group interactions, aligning with the platform’s broader efforts to safeguard user privacy and enhance user experience.