WhatsApp Is Getting a Green Dot to Show When Contacts Are Online

If you've ever opened WhatsApp just to check if someone is online before sending a message, the messaging platform is making it easier to identify an active contact. The new green dot indicator is now rolling out for WhatsApp beta to let users know when someone is online.

WhatsApp Green Dot Indicator Rolls Out to Show When Contacts Are Active

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is now introducing a new green dot for its Android users. The feature is part of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.24.5 update, available to download via the Google Play Store.

Image Credit: WABetaInfo

As is evident from the above image, a new green dot will now appear on the profile photo of a user inside the chat info menu. It is aimed to let others know when a user is online without texting them and also allows them to convey the same to their contacts. 

The same functionality was previously achieved by using a text-based online label that showed when a user was online and also added the ability to see their "last seen" info. Now, with the new green dot implementation, WhatsApp is replacing the text-based chat label with a more recognisable green dot.

It already allows users on Instagram and Facebook to know each other's online status via the green dot. Now, with the same implemented on WhatsApp, Meta is making the information visible at a glance. Also, the green dot online status info is built around the same privacy settings as the previous online label.

Users will be able to edit their privacy settings to either allow others to see when they are online or completely block access. If toggled off, users will also not be able to see the green dot on their contact's profile photo.

The new green dot online status indicator is currently rolling out to beta testers on Android. It should see a wider rollout in the coming weeks. So, stay tuned.