WhatsApp Beta Adds Green Dot to Show Who's Online

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp appears to be introducing a new visual indicator that shows when a contact is online, according to WaBetaInfo.

The feature adds a small green circle to a contact's profile photo when they're active in the app, and which disappears the moment they leave, all updated in real time. The indicator is now being tested for the WhatsApp iPhone app in TestFlight after it debuted on Android last month.

As it currently works, the dot only surfaces in the chat info screen (the page that opens when you tap a contact's name at the top of a conversation). It doesn't yet appear in the chat list or the conversation view itself, but that could change in the future.

The change appears to stick to WhatsApp's existing privacy rules, so if someone has specifically chosen to hide their last seen and online status, the green dot won't show up for them.

Green dot for online contacts shown (image: WaBetaInfo)​

The indicator is live in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.26.10.72. WABetaInfo reports that it's available to some beta testers now, with a wider beta rollout expected over the coming weeks. There's no word yet on when the green dot will reach the stable version for everyone, though.

Article Link: WhatsApp Beta Adds Green Dot to Show Who's Online

 

[Godspeed8230]

He is online, why isn’t he replying

 

[Earwolf]

The beginning of the end

 

[Michael Scrip]

Who remembers the days of AOL Instant Messenger and other similar services?

When your friends were "online" it meant they were literally sitting at their desktop computer.

But in the modern days of mobile... you send a message and they'll reply when they feel like it.

WhatsApp seems like they're combining the old with the new.

😎

 

[n-evo]

Before all the fuss: This is just a different take on the “Last seen at … Currently online” feature that has existed since for ever. If you have turned that off in Privacy settings that green dot won’t show either.

 

[8rlee8]

Kind of redundant when people carry their phones with them and get the notification anyways. Like the other commenter said, people aren't sitting at their desktop computers these says. Only us geeks.

 

[cjsuk]

People do not need to know if I'm online or not.

 

[cookiemonster89]

The good thing is that you can disable it. But keep in mind after turning this feature off you won't see the online status from anyone else either.

 

[Blackstick]

Microsoft Teams will 🟢 and your coworker might reply 5 hours (or days) later 😂

 

[rbbloom99]

People do not need to know if I'm online or not.

You can disable this notification.

“so if someone has specifically chosen to hide their last seen and online status, the green dot won't show up for them”

 

[cjsuk]

You can disable this notification.

“so if someone has specifically chosen to hide their last seen and online status, the green dot won't show up for them”

That's a bad default.

 

[Powerbooky]

He is online, why isn’t he replying

That's annoying. Had a friend did the same with email years ago. Demanded answers on one line questions send via email within minutes, as if everyone is permanently glued to the keyboard (or phone). Well... I may be one of the few that is able to turn off the phone/Mac with ease.

Now I have to say, ever since the rise of all those social platforms, many people have indeed their phone glued to their hands. Not specifically youngsters, but also many 30+ adults and especially those "Real housewives" that live in the nearby part of my town.

 

[DaveTheRave]

People do not need to know if I'm online or not.

Yup. And this can be easily disabled in WhatsApp.

 

[leonremi]

Typical Meta... maximizing engagement and killing privacy.
I hate Zuckerberg....but should I be surprised? his whole empire started as a creepy site to rate female college students...

 

[svish]

Glad that there is still an option to hide last seen and status. Hopefully that won't go away.

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

He is online, why isn’t he replying

Ikr

However

I gotta welcome NOT more stalking options

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

95% of users don't want this. Or maybe 99%.

 

[mdatwood]

And it still can't work with more than 1 account?

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

This is a lost battle but I really hate this online presence thing, whether it’s dot or “last seen online”

You can’t “just disable it” either because then people will complain that you disabled your online status in order to ghost them

And yes, before you say it know I need to find better friends 🥲

 

[dg1974]

Glad that there is still an option to hide last seen and status. Hopefully that won't go away.

soon available only with WhatsApp Plus!

 

[kushner]

So he can charge you for hiding it next.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Now make it make that opening door sound when they log on, and slamming door sound when they log off.

Then it can be just like AOL Instant Messenger!

 

[Yakuzahi]

Back in the days when the iPhone used to get the jailbreak, there was an app called “OnlineNotify” it used to do the same thing, show a green dot next to a online user on WhatsApp. You could also get notification when a specific gets online.