Ever open your WhatsApp to find yourself bombarded with notifications from unknown groups with cryptic names? You’re not alone. Many users get added to random groups by people they don’t even know. These can be anything from spam groups to local promotions you never signed up for.
There’s a way to take back control of your inbox and silence the influx of unwanted chats.
Here we will guide you through fixing WhatsApp group privacy settings and stopping unknown users from adding you to groups.
Why is it important to avoid unknown groups?
There are a few reasons why it is important to avoid unknown WhatsApp groups:
Privacy: Unknown groups could contain people that you don’t know or trust. By joining an unknown group, you are giving these people access to your phone number and personal information. It’s important to be cautious and mindful of the potential risks associated with sharing personal information with unfamiliar groups or individuals.
Security: Unknown groups could be used to spread malware or viruses. By joining an unknown group, you could accidentally install malware on your phone or computer.
Spam: Unknown groups could be used to send you spam messages or advertisements.
Harassment: Unknown groups could be used to harass or bully you. By joining an unknown group, you are putting yourself at risk of being harassed or bullied.
How to prevent unknown users from adding you to WhatsApp groups
Fortunately, a setting in your WhatsApp account’s privacy area prevents you from joining random groups. This feature allows you to control who may add you to groups. It is set to “Everyone” by default, which means that anybody with your phone number can add you to a group. Even after you change the settings, group managers can send you invite links and encourage you to join groups. Follow the procedures below to avoid being added to groups by unknown strangers:
- Open WhatsApp, click on the three dots on the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap on the Settings option and then tap Account. Click on Privacy > Groups.
- The default setting is likely to be set to ‘Everyone‘. One can select from three options — ‘Everyone’, ‘My Contacts’, and ‘My Contacts Except’.
- Anyone with your phone number can add you to a group without your consent if you select the ‘Everyone’ option.
- Only users whose phone numbers you’ve stored in your contact list can add you to groups using the ‘My Contact’ option.
- The last option, ‘My Contacts Except,’ allows you to determine who can add you to groups by filtering and delisting the contacts you don’t want to be joined by.
Also Read: How to hide last seen and blue ticks in WhatsApp
Conclusion
By following the tips above, you can help to avoid being added to unknown WhatsApp groups. If you are added to an unknown group, you can report it to WhatsApp. It is important to avoid unknown groups to protect your privacy, security, and well-being.
