The messaging app WhatsAppproperty of Goalhas begun the implementation of a new connection indicator system that replaces the classic “online” text with a discreet green dot.
WABetaInfo reported that, although the function is not yet available to all users, key details of its operation are already known.
The new indicator consists of a green dot that appears next to the profile photo of certain contacts, as long as they are active in the application at that time. This circle, located in the corner of the profile image, is activated only when the person is actively logged in to WhatsApp and disappears automatically when you close the app.
As detailed by the portal, this system is integrated into the interface in a less invasive way than the old text, offering “a discreet and effective visual signal.”
Currently, the green dot only appears on the contact information screen. To access it, users must tap the person’s name within a conversation, which takes them to a specific section where the new indicator is displayed if the contact is online. It is not displayed in the main chat list or within the normal conversation window.
The feature is now available for some users of iPhone that participate in the beta program, after having been tested on devices Android. The deployment is progressive and still limited, although the arrival of the iOS beta suggests that in the coming months its access will be expanded to a greater number of people.
There are indications that in future updates the green dot could be extended to other sections of the interface.
The new digital presence system in WhatsApp maintains the privacy parameters that have characterized the platform. The green dot is only displayed to those authorized to view the user’s online status and last connection. If a person has chosen to hide this information in their privacy settings, the indicator will not appear for their contacts either.
The function respects the same rules as the traditional textual notice, so that only those who share its presence can be identified using this new method.
The company seeks to ensure that the visual indicator is not invasive. The fact that the green dot is restricted to the contact information screen limits the scope of the data, as it does not reveal a user’s connection in the chat list or in the active conversation. This reduces the impact on privacy and prevents user activity from being visible to all contacts at all times.
The change in the connection indicator responds to a trend of WhatsApp to offer relevant information in a simple and discreet way. The objective is to make the user experience less intrusive, maintaining the possibility of knowing if a contact is online, but without this information being displayed constantly or prominently.
At the moment, the feature is in the testing phase and is still available only to a small group of users in beta versions of Android and iOS. The company has not announced an exact date for its global rollout, although the progressive expansion of the beta suggests that it could be incorporated more widely in the coming months.
