The hidden side of WhatsApp: How Zimbabweans are utilizing new feature to cheat on their partners
WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app owned by Meta, has recently introduced a new feature that allows users to lock their personal chats with a fingerprint or a passcode. This feature is aimed at enhancing the privacy and security of WhatsApp users, who can now hide their sensitive conversations from prying eyes.
According to some reports²³, this feature is already available to some beta testers and will be rolled out to all Android and iOS users in the coming weeks. To enable this feature, users need to open the chat info of the contact they wish to lock and toggle on the “Chat lock” option². Once locked, the chat will be hidden from the main chat list and can only be accessed by unlocking it with the user’s fingerprint²³.
This feature has been welcomed by many Zimbabweans, especially those who cheat in their relationships and marriages. They can now lock their chats with their secret lovers and prevent their spouses or partners from finding out about their affairs. They can also avoid the embarrassment of having their intimate messages or photos exposed to anyone who might access their phones.
One such user, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that he was happy with the new feature as it gave him more peace of mind. “I have been cheating on my wife for a long time and I always worry that she might see my messages with my girlfriend. But now I can lock my chat with her and no one can see it unless they have my fingerprint. It’s a great feature for people like me who want to keep their affairs discreet,” he said.
Another user, who also requested anonymity, said that she was using the feature to lock her chats with her sugar daddy. “I have a sugar daddy who pays for my bills and spoils me with gifts. He is married and I don’t want his wife or anyone else to know about our relationship. So I lock our chat and hide our photos and videos in a password-protected folder. It’s very convenient and secure,” she said.
However, not everyone is happy with the new feature. Some users have expressed their concerns that it might encourage more infidelity and dishonesty among WhatsApp users. They argue that locking chats is a sign of hiding something and that it might erode the trust and transparency that are essential for healthy relationships.
One such user, who identified herself as Rumbi, said that she was against the feature as it made it easier for people to cheat on their partners. “I think this feature is bad for relationships because it allows people to hide their conversations from their loved ones. If you have nothing to hide, why do you need to lock your chats? I think this feature will only promote more cheating and lying among WhatsApp users,” she said.
Another user, who called himself Tafadzwa, said that he was worried that his girlfriend might use the feature to lock her chats with other men. “I trust my girlfriend but I don’t trust other men who might try to seduce her. I don’t like the idea of her locking her chats with anyone because I want to know what she is talking about and who she is talking to. I think this feature will create more problems and suspicions in relationships,” he said.
The new WhatsApp feature has sparked mixed reactions among Zimbabweans, who have different views on how it affects their privacy and relationships. While some see it as a useful tool to protect their personal chats, others see it as a threat to their trust and honesty. As WhatsApp continues to roll out this feature to more users, it remains to be seen how it will impact the social dynamics of Zimbabweans.
