With around two billion active accounts, WhatsApp remains one of the most popular messaging apps. However, Green Cat Guru users still make many mistakes, some of which are not without danger. Here are the eight biggest WhatsApp pitfalls you should avoid
1. Take photos and selfies directly with WhatsApp
To save bandwidth, WhatsApp compresses some photos and videos before sending them. However, this only affects media you create directly in the app using the little camera icon.
To send photos or videos with the best quality, you should therefore not take such photos with WhatsApp, but with the phone’s own camera application. Then add the image as an attachment directly in the chat window, so you don’t have to tolerate any loss of quality.
2. Send messages like a machine gun
A serious violation of chat etiquette: instead of sending thoughts in the form of formulated (or at least coherent!) messages, some users send only chunks of text, but in large quantities.
The recipient then not only receives a discreet sound signal for a single message. They are practically bombarded with beeps and ringtones – until this annoying nuisance has to be turned off to protect their sanity. Here is an example of such an intrusion:
Hi! (Ding!)
I’m in town (Ding!)
where are you ? (Ding!)
shall we meet again this evening? (Ding!)
that would be cool ! (Ding!)
Good morning? (Ding!)
…
You have blocked me ?? (more noise)
These chat terrorists get bonus points if they drive several users crazy at the same time with their behavior in group chats.
Read also : WhatsApp is getting a makeover, notably in “Super Dark” mode.
3. Falling into the trap of scammers
Even cautious users have fallen into the trap: anyone who uses WhatsApp too gullibly or naively can quickly be targeted by scammers and fraudsters. This happens with seemingly harmless links (phishing) or the famous children’s trick. Here, scammers pose as supposed family members and claim, for example, to have a new cell phone with a new number that you need to register.
Example message:
“Hello mom/dad! Unfortunately, I lost my cell phone and am now using this new number. Please save it and delete the old issue immediately! »
Shortly after, money is insisted on. Even though such scams have been around for years, many helpful users still fall for them – and not just parents.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
4. Not using the WhatsApp desktop app
No octopus in the world can type as quickly and accurately on a touchscreen as on a keyboard with a little practice. So if you spend a lot of time sitting in front of your PC, WhatsApp Desktop is still a good choice (download here for Windows and Mac).
The client displays message previews as messages on the desktop, offers plenty of space for watching videos or images and makes chatting via the keyboard as quick and easy as possible. Messages can also be received when the smartphone is offline.
5. Showing messages on the lock screen
It’s convenient, but it can be annoying: if you allow WhatsApp messages to appear on the lock screen in Android system notifications, you risk prying eyes and maybe even unwanted glances.
Especially since writing is easily misunderstood without context, problems can arise if colleagues, friends or the boss see the smartphone at the wrong time.
Therefore: For better data protection, it is best to deactivate the functionality in the device settings.
6. Sharing your online status without thinking
By default, WhatsApp shows contacts in the individual chat window when they were last online or if they are currently online.
However, sometimes you don’t want to share this information at all: after all, not everyone needs to know that you can’t sleep at night or don’t feel like responding to certain messages.
Many also feel pressured when WhatsApp reveals that you are watching a conversation but don’t have a response ready yet. In the past, spy apps have also emerged that used this data to spy on WhatsApp users.
The solution is to simply adjust and control your WhatsApp status “Last Seen” and “Online”.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
7. Create group chats and use link invitations
The group function is particularly popular with WhatsApp. Administrators can add new users here directly through the app or send access links with email – but this comes with a risk.
With such links, any user who can access a link can join the group. Even those you might not want to have in the group.
If you therefore want to maintain control over participation in the group chat, you should only invite other people directly. Please note in the group chat window: Menu (three dots) > Group info > Add members.
Who hasn’t experienced this (and regretted it): you finally persuaded Aunt Erna to jump on the WhatsApp bandwagon – but now she sends us eight cat videos a day, four excerpts from her cooking program favorite and all senior club gag gifs. Damn it, Erna!
Fortunately, you can protect your phone’s memory and your nerves: simply set automatic media download in WhatsApp settings under “Storage & Data” and exclude at least videos.
Related reading:
This article was originally published on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and adapted from German.
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