NEW YORK, Sept 26: WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging platforms, has faced criticism for attracting spam and unwanted messages. Since anyone with a user's phone number can send messages, this has often led to annoyance and concerns about privacy. To address the issue, WhatsApp is now testing a new feature aimed at giving users more control over who can message them, in an effort to reduce spam from unknown senders.

The messaging app is rolling out a new update for beta users on Android, allowing them to automatically block messages from unknown accounts. According to WABetaInfo, the feature is currently available to users with the latest WhatsApp beta version 2.24.20.16, accessible through the Play Store.

The main objective of this feature is to minimize spam from unknown accounts that flood inboxes with numerous messages in a short time. It provides users with a way to protect themselves from unwanted content, including potentially harmful messages.

Beta testers can access this feature by navigating to the three-dot menu, then selecting Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Block unknown account messages. Once activated, WhatsApp will automatically block messages from unknown accounts if they exceed a certain limit. Although the exact threshold remains unclear, excessive spam can slow down devices.

While this new tool is an effective way to manage spam, it has some limitations. It only blocks messages that surpass the predefined limit, potentially allowing unknown senders, such as businesses, to still send marketing messages. Users can avoid spam but may still receive promotional messages they did not request.

The new feature complements WhatsApp’s existing option to block spam directly from the lock screen. Despite being a convenient messaging service, WhatsApp has long struggled with managing unwanted messages. Unlike Signal, which prioritizes stricter privacy measures, WhatsApp has been more lenient in this regard. As a result, users are eager for further improvements to its security features to help combat the spam problem.