WhatsApp users will be able to block spam from the lockscreen itself. The app will now allow users to check the preview of a message and then choose the option to block or block and report the suspicious sender to the platform.
This new feature will prevent WhatsApp users from falling prey to various scam messages, which have become a serious problem on the Meta-owned platform. Let’s take a look at the new security feature.
Block WhatsApp Spam Messages From Lockscreen
WhatsApp has sent out a video message to its users informing them about the block from lockscreen option. What this change means is that a user will no longer have to open the message and read it to block it. WhatsApp will let users take action against the spammers or scammers straight from the notifications tray itself.
One reason spam is so common is that WhatsApp accounts are linked to the phone numbers of the users, which means anyone who has contact numbers of users can send messages. Typically messages offering jobs or financial gains come under this category. Businesses are also spamming customers these days with a flood of messages.
According to the video shared by WhatsApp, users will have the option to just block the sender or Block and Report the sender. In case users choose to block and report the suspicious message and its sender, the app will send the last five messages from the sender to the company.
Blocked contacts will no longer be able to call or send messages to the recipient. The feature is rolling out to users on both Android and iOS platforms and will arrive in a phased manner.
How To Block WhatsApp Spam From Lockscreen?
Blocking WhatsApp spam from the lockscreen is pretty straightforward forward and here’s how you can do it.
- Check the WhatsApp notification preview to see whether it is spam.
- Just long-press or swipe on the notification to bring up the contextual menu.
- Tap on the ‘Block’ option.
- Now, tap either on Block or Block and Report the sender.
This is particularly helpful for Indian users as Statista report data suggests that 54% of WhatsApp users received an average of up to three promotional messages daily. A LocalCircles report also suggested that 95% of WhatsApp users in India receive spam messages daily.
Notably, WhatsApp also partnered with Truecaller last year to introduce caller ID and spam protection on its platform. Additionally, the instant messaging platform launched its Ensuring User Safety in India on WhatsApp initiative as well to protect its users from spam in the country.
