15 ‘critical’ features missing in WhatsApp

WhatsApp has launched a range of features to make the instant chat platform more useful for the users. Unsure then that the instant messaging app is one of the most popular communication tool across the world, boasting of 1.5 billion monthly active users. On the other hand, there are still many features that we need in WhatsApp for it to become a ‘safer’ and more ‘useful’ app.

Here are listed 15 ‘critical’ features that we find missing in WhatsApp. These features can not only make WhatsApp a much better app but also improve its privacy overall.

1. WhatsApp Invisible Mode
This will allow you take a break from WhatsApp whenever you feel like. The user will be invisible to their contacts when they are actually online.

2. Hide profile picture from specific contacts
WhatsApp should give the option to hide profile picture from specific contacts. This will enable users to hide DP from official or business contacts when required.

3. Schedule Messages on WhatsApp
Won't it be nice to have a message scheduled in WhatsApp. This will be so handy for sending birthday greetings, official meetings invites, reminders and more.

4. Unknown contacts should need permission to send messages on WhatsApp
This feature will stop users from sending messages directly to the unknown contacts. When you turn on this feature, a user can only send a chat request to an unknown contact before sending the first message. Only if the chat request is accepted, the user can not send the message to the unknown contact.

5. Leave WhatsApp group without notifying other members
If you exit a WhatsApp group everyone gets to know through a notification. We should have an option to turn this off.

6. The option to mute a particular person in a WhatsApp Group
Instead of muting the entire group, there should be an option to mute specific contacts and stop getting notifications when they send some message in the group.

7. The ability to pin messages inside a group
Sometimes useful and important messages get lost in a group. An option to pin chats in a group may be really helpful.

8. Busy mode
In this mode the user will not receive any WhatsApp chats/ calls/ video calls for a selected time.

This mode is similar to the Airplane mode for WhatsApp. When turned on for a specific time, the user will be cut-off from WhatsApp on the whole.

9. Get text only messages from certain contact
There should be an option to permit certain users to send only text messages and not images, videos or other multimedia files. This will prevent users from sending junk.

10. Auto reply for busy or vacation mode
Similar to emails, there should be an option to opt for an automated reply in case the user is on vacation or very busy.

11. Additional biometric security to open particular chats
WhatsApp has finally launched support for biometric lock in iOS, it is expected that the feature would be rolled on Android also. It would be great if this feature can be used to secure select chats as well.

12. Screenshot notifications and ability to stop others from taking screenshots
Similar to Snapchat, WhatsApp should also notify users if a screenshot has been taken while chatting. Both the parties should have the control to allow the other person to take screenshots or not.

13. Ability to disable third-party screen recording apps during WhatsApp video calls
Using this feature, someone would not be able to record video calls using third party screen recording apps without the permission of the other party.

14. Self-destructing messages on WhatsApp
Will be really happy if WhatsApp comes with a feature that would delete chats on its own after a specific period of time when this feature is turned on.

15. Custom themes for WhatsApp chat
After custom interfaces on Android phones, wouldn’t it be great to have the option of personalised WhatsApp themes as well.