There are a few third party apps that claim to show you who has viewed your WhatsApp status secretly. However, due to WhatsApp’s privacy policy and end-to-end encryption, it is not possible for any third party app to access this information. WhatsApp does not provide any API or data that reveals who has viewed your status. So any app that claims to show this is likely fake or misleading.
How WhatsApp Status Views Work
When you post a status on WhatsApp, it is end-to-end encrypted and broadcasted to your contacts. WhatsApp intentionally does not show the list of viewers to protect user privacy. The only information you can see about your status is how many people have viewed it in total.
WhatsApp has confirmed many times that it does not provide any data to third parties about who views statuses. There is no way for an external app to secretly bypass WhatsApp’s encryption and privacy settings to access this data.
Why Viewer Apps Don’t Work
Here are some reasons why third party WhatsApp status viewer apps do not actually work:
- They cannot decrypt WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption to see who views your status.
- WhatsApp does not provide any API or data feed to third parties about status viewers.
- The apps likely just show random contacts or contacts who interact with you often to seem convincing.
- Viewer numbers shown are fabricated or just show your total views, not individual viewers.
- They may collect your data or try to get you to complete surveys for the promised results.
What the Fake Viewer Apps Are Doing
While they cannot actually determine your status viewers, here are some tricks these misleading WhatsApp status viewer apps use:
- Show your total status views, not individual viewers.
- Display randomized contacts from your address book.
- Only show contacts who frequently chat with you.
- Make you complete endless surveys to “unlock” the viewer list.
- Show ads and collect user data for profit.
- Charge subscription fees for premium “features.”
So the apps give the illusion of showing your status viewers, but it’s not based on any real data from WhatsApp.
Be Cautious of Downloading Third Party Apps
In general, you should be very cautious about downloading third party apps related to WhatsApp. Here are some risks to be aware of:
- They may compromise your privacy or security.
- Unauthorized access to your messages and data.
- Malware infections or viruses on your device.
- Spamming your contacts without consent.
- Subscriptions and in-app purchases may be hidden.
- Banned by WhatsApp for violating policies.
Only download apps related to WhatsApp from official sources like Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Avoid unofficial app stores or direct download links which are higher risk.
Safe Alternatives to View Status Views
If you want to get an idea of who has viewed your WhatsApp status, here are some safe methods:
- Look at the total view counter on your status update.
- See if contacts bring up or mention your status in chat.
- View statuses frequently interact with you.
- Use the “My Status” section to see recent status activity.
- Preview your status before posting to target a specific audience.
While this doesn’t show exact viewers, it can give you a general sense without compromising privacy or security.
WhatsApp’s Stance on Status Viewers
Here is WhatsApp’s official statement on why status viewers are not shown:
“To protect the privacy of our users, we do not disclose who views your status updates. Status updates are end-to-end encrypted, which means WhatsApp and third parties cannot see who views your status updates.”
They have made it clear the status viewer data is not available to anyone besides the user who posted the status. So any third party app claiming to provide this info is likely fraudulent.
Reporting Violations to WhatsApp
If you come across a third party app you believe is violating WhatsApp’s policies around status viewers, you can report it directly to WhatsApp using their Support page. Some things you can report include:
- Claiming to view WhatsApp status viewers.
- Asking for unauthorized access to your account.
- Spreading malware, viruses or spam.
- Violating user privacy and security.
WhatsApp reviews reports and takes action against policy violations to protect users. Reporting unauthorized apps can help keep WhatsApp safe and private for everyone.
Key Takeaways
- Third party apps cannot actually show who viewed your WhatsApp status due to encryption.
- WhatsApp does not provide any data to external apps about your status viewers.
- Be very cautious about downloading third party apps related to WhatsApp.
- Look at total views or chat mentions to get a general sense of status viewers.
- Report suspicious apps to WhatsApp if you believe they violate policies.