Why Can I See Someone’s Online Status on WhatsApp, Even if We’re Blocked?

It is often confusing when someone blocks you on WhatsApp but you’re still able to see their online status. How is this possible? Is it an indication that you are not blocked? Let us explore this in more detail.

What it Means to be Blocked on WhatsApp

If a user has blocked you on WhatsApp, this means you can no longer communicate with the person. You won’t be able to:

  • send them messages and calls

  • view their profile picture and last seen status

  • it won’t display if they have read your messages

  • You won’t see any status updates

How Can I See Someone’s Online Status

Although it isn’t possible to send messages and calls to someone who has blocked you, it is possible to still see their online status. That is because, when someone is online, WhatsApp notifies their contacts of the status even if the contact has blocked that person. This behaviour is by design, meaning it cannot be changed.

Can I Be Sure that I am Blocked

If you are only able to view the online status of someone who has blocked you instead of their profile photo, you may still be blocked or they may just have their profile photo set to private. To be sure that you are blocked, contact the person directly (via another platform) to confirm.

Although WhatsApp blocks the ability to contact someone when you are blocked, users still have the ability to view the online status of others. This may cause confusion and the best way to confirm if you are blocked is to try and contact the person via another platform.

2. How is WhatsApp able to differentiate between someone who has been blocked and someone who is simply ‘online’?

WhatsApp is able to differentiate between a blocked contact and a contact who is “simply online” by how it displays the two contacts in the app. When a user blocks another contact, the blocked contact will no longer appear in the user’s contact list and their conversation history with the contact will disappear. In addition, the blocked contact will no longer receive notifications when the user is online or when they send messages, while a “simply online” contact will still see notifications from the user.

5. Is it possible to hide online status from someone who has been blocked on WhatsApp?

Yes, it is possible to hide online status from someone who has been blocked on WhatsApp. When you block a contact on WhatsApp, it prevents them from seeing your online status, reading your messages, calling you, and viewing any changes to your profile photo.

1. What is the potential reason for being blocked but still seeing the other person’s online status?

The potential reason may be that the other person has the “Ignore” feature enabled, which allows them to still see your online status, even though you are blocked from contacting them. It is also possible that the other person has enabled their “Do Not Disturb” feature, which prevents them from receiving any incoming messages or calls from anyone on their contact list, including those who have been blocked.

4. Are there any other social media platforms that exhibit similar behavior to WhatsApp when it comes to blocked users?

Yes, there are other social media platforms that exhibit similar behavior to WhatsApp when it comes to blocked users. These platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. All of these platforms have a system in place that allows users to block someone who is being undesirable or annoying. In most cases, the blocked user will no longer be able to view the other person’s profile or posts. Additionally, they may not be able to send messages or friend requests.