It's undeniable that WhatsApp has become one of the most widely used communication tools in the world. And as such, it has also begun to become a tool used by companies and users to promote their services and products. The app itself offers native mechanisms to limit abuse. and, where appropriate, report messages as spam to protect your account.
WhatsApp as an advertising medium
While we can say that WhatsApp hasn't become a wall for advertising yet, the truth is that certain users and small businesses have begun using it to send advertising-type messages, promoting their company, offering their services, or trying to sell their products. This is not a problem if friends do it. Our people who want to spread their message. Since we can't have infinite contacts, this isn't a big problem, since the potential advertising we would receive would be limited to a few of our contacts.
However, WhatsApp has no limitations on who can write to you.Anyone with our mobile number can send a message, and until now, the only thing we could do if we didn't want to receive messages from that contact was to block them. No more problems for us, although that user can continue sending any messages they want. This could change thanks to the reporting functions. and new privacy settings aimed at stopping mass mailings from unknown individuals.
Report messages as spam
The main difference now is that WhatsApp gives us the option to report advertising or unwanted messages as spam, so that the platform can learn about the user's activity. The logical consequence after several reports from the same sender could be account cancellation, so our reporting efforts would have results. This option appears, especially when they write to you. a number that is not in your address bookThe goal isn't to limit all advertising, but rather to prevent large-scale mailings to unknown users.
In addition to the option to report as spam, we will also be given the option to add that user to our address book, in case it's actually someone we know that we haven't added. When you report, WhatsApp can review the last five messages of the sender and certain metadata (identifier, time, and type of message such as text, image, video, or audio) without notifying you; this is how we assess potential violations of the Terms of Service.
The new function is available in the latest version of WhatsApp, which you will be able to find over time in Google Play, although before on WhatsApp.com, and now on APK Mirror. Keep the app updated guarantees to have all security controls.
How to report and block on iOS and Android
On iOS, enter the conversation to report and tap on the top to open the profile. Swipe to the bottom and choose Report and Block If you want to send the report to WhatsApp and also prevent it from contacting you again. If you prefer, you can just press "Report" to report without blocking. The sender will not be notified of the report.
On Android, from the chat you want to report, tap the three point menu, go into "More" and choose "Report". You will be able to confirm whether you want to block the contact at once. If you choose only "Lock", the number will not be able to write to you, but a report will not be sent to WhatsApp.
After reporting/blocking, you can delete the thread: on iOS, long press on the chat and tap Delete chat; on Android, long press on the chat and press the paper bin on the top bar. This is how you erase any trace from the conversation on your list.
Lock from the lock screen
If you have notifications turned on, You can lock without opening the app. When you receive a message from an unregistered number, pull down the notification from the lock screen and choose Block (The Reply action is also often displayed.) This path is useful for stop unknown contacts immediately without exposing the content of the chat.
Block messages from unknown accounts (advanced setting)
WhatsApp incorporates an advanced Privacy setting that allows Automatically block messages from unknown accounts when it detects a surge of contact attempts. To activate it, go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced tab and activate Block messages from unknown accounts. This setting serves as shield against coordinated attacks or mass spam that saturate your tray and can affect performance.
Important: does not block all messages from strangers permanentlyIt's designed to protect you during periods of high volume. Outside of these periods, messages from strangers can be delivered normally again, preserving legitimate interactions (e.g., companies you've already had contact with).
Good security practices and two-step verification
In addition to reporting and blocking, activate the two step verification from Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification. Setting up a PIN adds a extra layer of protection against account hijacking attempts. WhatsApp is also exploring measures that reinforce control of the first contact (such as requesting additional confirmations), useful for stopping mass mailings from unknown senders.
If you encounter any suspicious messages, avoid clicking on links, downloading files, or providing personal information. Be wary of extraordinary offers, supposed prizes and urgencies for you to click. If in doubt, look for the entity's official channel and check separately.
WhatsApp offers native tools to stop spam from the first message: report, block, delete chat, advanced settings for unknowns and security recommendations. Keeping the app updated and using these controls proactively minimizes risk and improves your user experience.
