WhatsApp 201 – More How-to’s, Tips and Tricks [Updated July 2013]

In our WhatsApp 101 article we covered the basics of WhatApp, here we’ll touch a few topics that weren’t properly covered there or omitted.  So, here we go!

Disclaimer
This guide was made with android users running WhatsApp Version 2.9 in mind, although not intended for iPhone and Blackberry users the same general principles apply and the information here is mostly transferable.

Location Markers

Apart from multimedia WhatsApp allows you send GPS coordinates (i.e. Location Markers) to your contacts. These location markers can be opened with Google Maps. When opened the location of the sender will be indicated on their map, you can save this location or get directions to the location marker using the Google Map interface. This feature comes in handy if you’re organising a small event or just too tired to type directions. 

Sending your location is straight forward - during an active chat session, tap the office pin icon on the top right corner of the grey bar and then tap location. Your estimated location will be marked on the preview map for you to see – to improve accuracy make sure you GPS is witched on, then tap send your current location and a location marker will be sent.  

Group Chat

WhatsApp has group chat support - this allows you to create a chat group to have real-time discussions with friends and colleagues. From the ‘chats’ homescreen, press the options key then tap ‘New Groups’, you will be promoted to type a group name and an optional picture, tap next in the top right corner on the screen. You will now be prompted to add participants from your WhatsApp contact list. When done, tap Create in the top right corner and your group will e created with all you participants added. To manage the group while in the group chat window, press your options key, the tap ‘group info’ to Add or remove people from the group, change the subject or Delete and exit the group. 

How to Tell If you’ve Been Blocked on WhatsApp

When you have been blocked by someone on WhatsApp all incoming messages from that individual will be undelivered. WhatsApp does not notify the blocked party in any way that they have been blocked. There are some tell-tale signs to search for to see if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp,

a.       When you have been blocked by someone via WhatsApp, messages you send to that person will reach the WhatsApp server but will not be delivered to the person who has blocked you. You will notice that your message will be ticked once – indicating the message has been sent, but will be double ticked – indicating the message has been delivered.

b.      When you open a chat window to chat with a contact, WhatsApp should give you information in the grey bar about when this person was last online – their last active ‘time stamp’, this information usually loads within a few seconds. If you have been blocked no information will loaded, and the bar will remain blank. 

c.       The best way to test if you have been blocked on WhatsApp is to delete the suspected contact from your device, wait a few moments for your WhatsApp contact list to update itself - removing the contact from your WhatsApp contact list, and then resave the contact on your device. If you have been blocked the contact will not reappear on your WhatsApp contact list.

Please bearing in mind that these are just symptoms to look out for if you feel you have been blocked by a user, if you confirm a majority of these symptoms it is most likely you have been blocked.

This concludes our WhatsApp course. If you have anything you like added just leave a comment below.