In Issue 635 (page 44), we explained how you can hide your ‘Last seen’ status in WhatsApp to stop people knowing when you last used the chat app. This privacy feature has now been expanded to let you conceal that you’re online, allowing you to read, write and send messages without being drawn into unwanted conversations.

To access the new setting on your Android phone, tap the three-dot ‘More options’ icon and choose Settings, then Account and select Privacy. On your iPhone, tap Settings, Account then Privacy. Press ‘Last seen and online’ and choose either Nobody or ‘My contacts except…’ under ‘Who can see my last seen’. With the second option, select the people you want to hide your online