We are living in a world, where technology advances at light speed and messages being sent across the globe in just a blink. In this digital realm, communication has never been easier! And one messaging app has become a major player allowing instant connection: WhatsApp.

With over 2 billion active users worldwide, it’s the modern-day equivalent of passing notes in class. It’s a virtual ground where we connect with family, friends and colleagues.

Yet, amidst the surface-level convenience of this platform lies a feature that has ignited controversy as well as speculation: Locked Chats.

I want you to imagine the following scenario:

You are planning a surprise birthday party for your partner. You want everything to be perfect, but you need to keep it a secret because it’s supposed to be a surprise, right?! That’s where WhatsApp’s locked chat feature comes in handy. With just a few taps, you can hide your party plans.

However, like any double-edged sword, the locked chat feature also reveals a darker side.

While it can protect well-intentioned secrets, some might exploit it to hide conversations they shouldn’t be having in the fist place — flirting, affairs, and breaches of trust. What initially served as a tool for privacy can swiftly transform into a tool for deception, damaging relationships and eroding trust.

This raises some important questions: Why the need for such extended privacy? Isn’t the archive chats feature on WhatsApp’s already enough?

Let’s look at it. WhatsApp’s archive chats feature already allows users to stash away conversations, keeping them out of sight. So seriously, why the need for an additional layer of security?

I just couldn’t fully wrap my head around it, so I brought up this topic a few times to my friends and also started a thread on reddit about it. I was curious to hear people’s thoughts. Interestingly, the opinions were mixed.

Some praise this new feature as a welcome addition, offering an additional layer of privacy for sensitive discussions in an increasingly transparent world. But what kind of sensitive discussions are we talking about here?

I didn’t get many straight answers which didn’t really surprise me. I mean I had already formulated my hypothesis in my mind anyways which was then sadly confirmed by the few people who were vulnerable enough to share their true intentions with me. Shout out to the brave amongst us!

The ones that were fond of this new add-on feature admitted that it makes their life so much easier as they now can hide chats from their partner even better. They admitted to engaging in either some casual hookups on the side or even having a mistress their spouse is not supposed to know of. Of those being in a committed relationship and making active use of this feature, I had literally no one using it for any other reason than cheating on their significant other.

I felt disheartened hearing this. But this has become the world we now live in. We place short-term fun over long-term fulfillment. We only stay until we are bored or not consider ourselves happy anymore. Or there is also always the other option where we experience financial stability and a comfortable lifestyle we selfishly don’t want to give up. Hence, we involve in sneaky activities on the side to still meet our needs not knowing or caring that we hurt others by it.

Then I wondered, what if WhatsApp’s introduction of locked chats intentionally promotes deception and infidelity? It’s a thought-provoking angle that dives into the murky waters of human behavior and technological ethics.

Locked chats offer an elevated level of protection. So in the event someone gains access to your device it ensures that certain conversations remain secure and off-limits. It’s a safeguard. Great, got it. But it just doesn’t sit right, at least not with me…

Further complicating matters is the vast number of messages circulating daily on WhatsApp, amounting to billions globally. To provide exact figures, about 5.833 billion messages are swapped every single hour, 97 million messages are transmitted every minute, and roughly 1.6 million messages are sent per second. Personally, I use WhatsApp daily as well. How about you?

Projections anticipate over 3 billion active users by 2025. This underpins how each individual is actively partaking in digital communication that forms the foundation of modern society.

Let’s look at the user experience of this feature. These hidden conversations have to be unlocked with Face ID which comes in handy for the user, ensuring that even if someone gains access to your device, certain chats remain protected. Alternatively, after two failed Face ID attempts, users are prompted to enter a passcode to unlock the hidden chats.

To add a chat to Locked Chats, users simply need to open the desired chat, click on the contact, and activate the toggle “Lock Chat”. The user flow is short and easy making the user feel in control of their digital space.

I would argue, however, that this could also be viewed as a misleading pattern in a greater sense as it doesn’t bring good intentions with it. In case you wonder what a misleading or deceptive pattern is, it is supposed to trick users to do certain things such as buying something they didn’t even mean to.

A while back I published this article about it including common examples: How to avoid deceptive patterns in your designs

So by providing a platform for hidden conversations, WhatsApp seems to open the door to a culture of betrayal and casualties. Locked Chats could enable individuals to increasingly engage in deceitful behavior, hiding their conversations from partners, friends, or family. Through my lens, this newfound privacy is going to be rather somewhat destructive fostering an environment where trust is undermined and relationships are at risk.

It’s crucial to remember that every feature, every update, comes with its own set of implications. I am not saying it doesn’t allow us to grow genuine connections with people. I would only suggest to enjoy it with caution.

In the end, the locked chat feature serves as a a great example that dances along a fine line between convenience and consequence. After all, in a world where we can lock away secrets with just the tap of a finger, true integrity becomes rare, but those of us who want to continue to live up to their values will choose to practice honesty and engage with the world around us.

As a wrap up, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support and engagement. I trust this journey into the realm of inclusive design has been both enlightening and thought-provoking. Stay tuned for more captivating content in the future. Until next time, farewell! 👋🏻

— Carina