Message Privacy & Controls

By default, WABA members can send you a direct message. One setting changes that:

Mobile: Go to My Account → Privacy → Interactions and toggle Allow Messages ("Let others send you direct messages"). Turn it off and only your friends can message you — everyone else sees that they can't send.

The same section has Allow Friend Requests if you'd like to control who can even ask to connect.

Note: There's no separate "message requests" inbox to approve — the Allow Messages setting plus your friends list is the whole gate. Simple on purpose.

If a conversation turns bad, you don't have to leave the chat to deal with it:

Mobile: In the chat, tap the ⋯ menu in the header and choose Block user. Confirm, and they can no longer message you — the conversation disappears from your inbox (and theirs).

Web: Block from the person's profile (⋯ → Block User) or manage blocks under Community → People → Blocked Users.

Blocking is quiet — the other person isn't notified.

Report content that violates community guidelines:

1. On mobile, long-press the offending message and choose Report message, or use Report user from the chat's ⋯ menu.
2. Pick a reason and submit. The moderation team reviews reports — you don't need to stay in the conversation while they do.

Reporting and blocking work well together: report to flag the behavior, block to protect your space.

• Blocked users can't message you, react to your messages, or be added to groups with you.
• Voice notes are encrypted and expire automatically.
• Group chats respect blocks too — someone can't add a person you've blocked into a group with you.