Meta is set to introduce a number of changes to WhatsApp, the messaging service that was bought over by the Facebook parent in 2014.

The messaging platform is going to introduce two new updates to users this month and is trialling another privacy setting that it hopes to bring on board in the future.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the update in June of this year, but the new features are starting to come online this month.

The new features are:

1. Leaving a group

People will now be able to leave groups without the rest of the members being notified, a feature that has been long called for by the public.

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This privacy update means regardless of the size of the chat members will be able to discreetly leave and only group admins will be informed of a member's exit.

Current settings mean that all members receive a notification when someone leaves one of their WhatsApp chat groups. 

2. Users can limit who can see their online activity

Currently, people have the option to switch off read receipts but users can still see when their contacts were last on WhatsApp. This new update will allow customers to choose who can see when they are online at any time.

WhatsApp outlined in its statement that this is to give more security to users and not let all their contacts know when they are online.

According to the company, this update will help users keep their online activity private and while they feeel "seeing when friends or family are online helps users feel connected to one another, everyone has had times when they wanted to check their WhatsApp privately."

It brings the app into contention with other messaging apps such as Snapchat and Instagram who already have this feature.

3. 'View-once' photos and screenshots

WhatsApp is currently testing a screenshot blocking mode for their ‘view-once’ photo messages, a feature that is set to be rolled out later this year. 

When this is introduced, a user would not be able to screenshot photos sent through the ‘view-once’ technique, something that would be a significant change in how the model operates currently.

As things stand, users can send photos and videos through the 'view-once' method by clicking on the 1 button next to the arrow before sending media to contacts. However, up until now 'view-once' still allows anyone who receives an image to screenshot the photo without notifying the sender.

This update would introduce a screenshot block mode where the receiver would not be able to save anything sent to them through the 'view-once' method. The update is reminiscent of an update introduced by Snapchat a few years ago where they allowed users to set whether pictures could be screenshotted.

Zuckerburg went on to say on Facebook "[The updates] prevent screenshots on view once messages. We'll keep building new ways to protect your messages and keep them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations."      

WhatApps end-to-end encryption on their messages already means that no one is able to see what is sent between users except those within the conversation.

4. Changes to text messages

WhatsApp are also introducing changes to their text message service that will impact how users interact with the app. The app tweeted on Monday that users will now have over two days to delete sent messages from chats.

The news comes as Facebook, WhatsApp's sister company, faces a the third largest fine recorded in Ireland for breaking EU data laws.