The WhatsApp status
WhatsApp introduced a status feature, similar to Instagram stories, which allows users to share images or videos that disappear automatically after 24 hours. One way to check if a person is online on WhatsApp is by checking their status. If there’s an active status of the person you are looking for, it means they are currently online. However, not everyone keeps their status updated frequently, so this method may not always be accurate.
The online/offline status indicator
WhatsApp has a built-in feature that lets users see if their contacts are online or offline. When a person is online, you will see a green dot next to their name. On the other hand, if a person is offline, the green dot will disappear, and you will see their last seen time instead.
To see this feature in action, open your WhatsApp app and navigate to your chat list. Find the person you want to check, and look next to their name. If there’s a green dot, it means they are watching their mobile. If not, the last seen time will appear. The last seen time will tell you the last time the person was online. If they are online, but there’s no green dot, it may be because they have turned off their “online status” in the app’s privacy settings.
The notifications feature
Another way to see if a person is online on WhatsApp is by checking their notifications. When someone sends you a WhatsApp message, and your phone is unlocked, you will receive a notification in the notification bar or the pop-up window. In some phones, you can even see a preview of the message. If you are seeing incoming notifications that are not read/seen, it means the person is currently using WhatsApp.
However, this method can be unreliable if they have turned off the notifications for the app.
Third-party apps
There are several third-party apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that offer additional features for WhatsApp. Some of these apps can help you know if a person is online on WhatsApp. However, it is better to be cautious when using third-party apps as they can sometimes compromise your data.
Conclusion
Knowing if someone is online on WhatsApp can be crucial in certain situations. Though WhatsApp provides in-built features to see if someone is online/offline, it isn’t always accurate. The third-party applications can provide additional information but, at the same time, can also put your privacy/data security at risk. In conclusion, the best way to know if a person is really online on WhatsApp is by checking their online status, last seen time, and notifications.