A few things cause silly—and sometimes heated—arguments between couples, friends, and even colleagues on WhatsApp. At the top of the list are WhatsApp's blue ticks and "last seen" status. We know what blue ticks are and what they mean, but what is WhatsApp's "last seen" feature about? Let's find out below.
What Is WhatsApp’s “Last Seen” Feature?
When your friend takes too long to reply to your WhatsApp message, you might wonder if they've even seen it. If they have WhatsApp's read receipt feature enabled, a quick check should tell you if they've read or at least opened your message. That also allows you to check the exact time they read your WhatsApp message—if they have.
But not everyone has that feature enabled. Some people don't want to be pressured to respond to messages immediately, so they prefer to have gray ticks enabled instead of blue. In that case, or whatever the reason your friend hasn't responded to your message, you have another option to gauge if they've seen your message: WhatsApp's "last seen" feature.
Apart from the regular chat with friends and family, WhatsApp's "last seen" feature can let you know if a user is still active on the number you have saved. For example, maybe you want to reach out to someone you haven't talked to in a while. So, you open the chat to pop them a message or to call them.
If they have the "last seen" feature enabled it can help you decide whether it's worth contacting them or if you're better off reaching out to them elsewhere.
What Does "Last Seen" on WhatsApp Mean?
WhatsApp's "last seen" feature tells you when a contact was last online on WhatsApp and using the app. If they have the feature enabled, you can quickly glance over the top of the chat to see when that was. The information you'll find there includes the day and time they were last on WhatsApp. For context, WhatsApp determines this using a 24-hour clock, and it is based on your own time zone.
It'll show the word Online if they're currently active. If the contact was recently active, it'll state the day and time. For example, last seen today at 17:15. And if it's been a while since they last logged in, it'll show you the date without the time stamp.
If you don't immediately hear back from someone, and you can't see their "last seen" information, you might wonder if they've blocked you. Fortunately, you can check if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp using telltale signs. But keep in mind that they might have just hidden their online status on WhatsApp to avoid answering questions about why they're quiet.
It's one of the ways to use WhatsApp while maintaining your privacy. In that case, you might want to wait it out or call the person you've texted if it's urgent. Keep in mind that if you've hidden your online status, you won't be able to view anyone else's online status.
So, if you want to view the time someone was last active on WhatsApp, you'll have to enable the setting on your account as well. To be fair, that shouldn't be a problem if you want to see other people's online status—it goes both ways. In fact, WhatsApp's privacy features tend to work that way.
Use WhatsApp’s “Last Seen” Feature With Care
Users who don't want to be bothered with tons of questions while busy typically keep their "last seen" status hidden. But some users value transparency and don't mind the questions. They believe keeping their online status visible keeps them accountable.
However, some people can take advantage of this feature. So, only enable it if you have the patience to explain to people why you haven't answered their messages. Expect to receive messages during working hours, too. Otherwise, it's a harmless and helpful feature that anyone can benefit from.