WhatsApp is working on a new feature that could help reduce spam by allowing users to block multiple messages from unknown numbers, as WABetaInfo reported. This new option, discovered in the beta version of the Android app, aims to protect users from unwanted message floods.
The feature description indicates that WhatsApp can “block messages from unknown accounts if they exceed a certain volume,” intended to protect user accounts and improve device performance. Although the exact threshold for what constitutes “exceeding volume” isn’t specified, the tool would block a conversation if it detects a mass sending of unanswered messages rather than preventing the unknown number from contacting you entirely.
This update could also help optimize your phone’s performance, as receiving too many messages in a short time can overload the device. The feature is expected to be an optional setting, available in the advanced privacy settings within the app.
The feature is still in development, and there’s no official release date for its launch.
Protection against unknown numbers
WhatsApp already offers several features to manage interactions with unknown numbers. For instance, users can mute calls from profiles not saved in their address book and control who can add them to groups.
Additionally, you can hide your profile picture from people who aren’t in your contacts and block specific contacts altogether. These existing privacy features complement the new option developed to block excessive messages from unknown numbers, enhancing user control and security on the platform.
