How to Stop Unwanted WhatsApp Status Mentions

Have you been noticing WhatsApp status updates popping up from people you don’t recognize? You’re not alone.

WhatsApp recently introduced a new feature called ‘status mentions,’ designed to let users tag contacts in their status updates. The idea is to alert specific people to your status, making it easier to share updates with them. Sounds handy, right? Well, there’s a catch.

The feature allows you to mention not just individual contacts but also entire WhatsApp groups. This means anyone who’s in a group with you can mention you in their status, even if you’re not personally connected. And here’s the kicker: this works even if you don’t have their number saved.

This has led to a situation where people you barely know, or don’t know at all, can push their status updates into your ‘Updates’ tab. It feels a bit like an invasion of privacy, doesn’t it? It definitely goes against WhatsApp’s usual focus on personal, private conversations.

So, what can you do about these unwanted WhatsApp status mentions?

Unfortunately, WhatsApp hasn’t provided a simple, direct way to disable mentions from people outside your contacts. Right now, you’re limited to a few less-than-ideal workarounds to stop WhatsApp status mentions:

1. Block the Person: You can block the individual who’s mentioning you. However, this is a reactive solution. You’d have to block each person who mentions you, which can become tedious, especially if you’re in many groups.
2. Leave the Group: WhatsApp suggests leaving or deleting the group where you’re being mentioned. While effective, it defeats the purpose of being in the group in the first place.
3. Archive or Mute: You can archive the chat or mute notifications from the person mentioning you. This stops the notifications, but the status will still show up in your ‘Updates’ tab.

An Ideal Solution to Stop WhatsApp Status Mentions

Ideally, WhatsApp would introduce a setting to disable notifications from mentions by people who aren’t in your contacts. They already have a similar feature for broadcast messages, so it’s definitely feasible.

They should also allow users to disable all mentions within groups, giving us more control over our privacy and keeping the platform focused on personal connections.

Until then, we’re stuck waiting for WhatsApp to address this issue and provide a more effective way to manage these unwanted status mentions. Hopefully, they’ll listen to user feedback and make the necessary changes soon.