With round two billion energetic accounts, WhatsApp continues to be probably the most standard messenger apps round. However, customers of the inexperienced chat guru nonetheless make a number of errors – a few of which aren’t with out hazard. Listed below are the eight largest WhatsApp pitfalls it’s best to keep away from
1. Taking photographs and selfies straight with WhatsApp
To avoid wasting bandwidth, WhatsApp compresses some photographs and movies earlier than they’re despatched. Nonetheless, this solely impacts media that you just create straight within the app utilizing the small digicam icon.
To ship photos or movies in the very best quality, it’s best to subsequently not take such photos with WhatsApp, however with the cellphone’s personal digicam app. Then add the picture as an attachment straight within the chat window, so that you don’t need to tolerate any lack of high quality.
2. Messaging like a machine gun
A severe breach of fine chat etiquette: As an alternative of sending ideas as formulated (or no less than coherent!) messages, some customers solely ship chunks of textual content – however plenty of them.
The recipient then not solely receives a discreet sign tone for a single message. They’re just about bombarded with beeps and ring tones – till the annoying nuisance needs to be muted to guard their psychological well being. Right here’s an instance of such intrusiveness:
Hello! (Ding!)
am on the town (Ding!)
the place are you? (Ding!)
meet tonight? (Ding!)
could be cool! (Ding!)
whats up? (Ding!)
…
have you ever blocked me?? (no extra ding)
Such chat terrorists get bonus factors in the event that they drive a number of customers loopy on the similar time with their behaviour in group chats.
Additionally learn: WhatsApp will get a very new look together with ‘Tremendous Darkish Mode’.
3. Falling for scammers
Even cautious customers have fallen into the entice: Anybody who makes use of WhatsApp too credulously or naively can shortly be focused by scammers and fraudsters. This occurs with seemingly innocent hyperlinks (phishing) or the notorious youngster trick. Right here, scammers pose as supposed members of the family and declare, for instance, to have a brand new cell phone with a brand new quantity that it’s best to please save.
Instance message:
“Whats up mum/dad! Sadly I’ve misplaced my cell phone and am now utilizing this new quantity. Please reserve it and delete the previous quantity immediately!”
A short while later, cash is begged for emphatically. Though such scams have been round for years, many beneficial customers nonetheless fall for them – and never simply dad and mom.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
4. Not utilizing the WhatsApp desktop app
No octopus on this planet can kind as shortly and precisely on a touchscreen as you’ll be able to on a keyboard with a bit of follow. So when you spend a number of time sitting at your PC, WhatsApp Desktop is at all times a good selection (obtain right here for Home windows and Mac).
The shopper exhibits preview messages as desktop messages, gives loads of area to observe movies or photos and makes chatting by way of keyboard as fast and simple as doable. Messages will also be acquired when the smartphone is offline.
5. Exhibiting messages on the lock display screen
It’s sensible, however might be embarrassing: For those who enable WhatsApp messages to be displayed on the lock display screen within the Android system notifications, you danger prying and maybe even unwelcome glances.
Particularly as a result of the written phrase is definitely misunderstood with out context, there might be bother if colleagues, associates or the boss catch a glimpse of the smartphone on the unsuitable second.
Due to this fact: For higher information safety, it’s higher to deactivate the characteristic within the machine settings.
6. Sharing on-line standing with out pondering
By default, WhatsApp exhibits contacts within the particular person chat window after they had been final on-line or whether or not they’re at present on-line.
Nonetheless, generally you don’t need to share this data in any respect: In any case, not everybody must know that you just couldn’t sleep at evening or didn’t really feel like replying to sure messages.
Many additionally really feel pressurised when WhatsApp reveals that you’re a chat however don’t have a reply prepared but. Previously, spy apps have additionally emerged which have utilised such information to listen in on WhatsApp customers.
The answer is to easily regulate and management your WhatsApp ‘Final seen’ and ‘On-line’ standing.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
7. Create group chats and use hyperlink invites
The group operate is especially standard with WhatsApp. Admins can add new customers right here straight by way of the app or ship entry hyperlinks with the messenger – however these harbour a danger.
With such hyperlinks, any consumer who can entry a hyperlink can be a part of the group. Even these you may not need to have within the group.
For those who subsequently need to retain management over participation within the group chat, it’s best to solely invite others straight. Particularly within the group chat window: Menu (three dots) > Group information > Add members.
Who hasn’t skilled (and regretted) this: you’ve lastly persuaded Aunt Erna to leap on the WhatsApp bandwagon – however now she’s sending us eight cat movies a day, 4 clips of her favorite cooking programme and each single gag gif from the senior residents’ membership. Jeez, Erna!
Happily, you’ll be able to shield your cellphone reminiscence and your nerves: Merely regulate the automated media obtain within the WhatsApp settings below “Storage and information” and no less than exclude movies.
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This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and tailored from German.