What happens when you block a contact in WhatsApp - briefly?
When you block a contact in WhatsApp, the blocked user will no longer be able to see your profile picture, status updates, or any messages you send after the block. Additionally, they won't be able to call you on WhatsApp.
What happens when you block a contact in WhatsApp - in detail?
When you block a contact in WhatsApp, several changes occur that affect both your interaction and the blocked user's experience. Firstly, any messages sent by the blocked contact will not be delivered to you; they will remain undelivered on their end. This means you won't see any new messages from them, and they won't appear in your chat list or notifications. Additionally, you will no longer receive calls from the blocked contact. Any attempts to call you will go unanswered, appearing as if your phone is turned off or out of range.
For the blocked user, the experience is somewhat limited but noticeable. They won't be able to see your profile picture, status updates, or any changes you make to your About section. Furthermore, they cannot add you to groups or send you messages directly. If they try to view your profile, it will appear as if you are not using WhatsApp at all.
On the group level, blocking a contact does not remove them from any shared groups you both belong to. However, their messages within those groups won't be visible to you unless the group admin adds them back or unblocks you. Similarly, you can still see and participate in group conversations, but the blocked user will not receive your messages or see your status changes within that group.
It is important to note that blocking a contact does not delete the chat history with that person. The conversation history remains in your phone's storage, allowing you to review past messages if needed. However, the blocked user cannot access any of the message history after being blocked.
Lastly, WhatsApp ensures privacy by not informing the blocked user that they have been blocked. They will simply see their messages as undelivered and may assume your phone is off or you're unavailable. This maintains a level of discretion and prevents potential confrontations.
In summary, blocking a contact in WhatsApp effectively cuts off communication from that individual while maintaining privacy on both sides. The blocked user experiences restrictions on their ability to interact with you, while you gain peace of mind knowing that unwanted messages and calls are no longer disrupting your experience.