Netizens concerned over WhatsApp's 'Chatting With' rumour

Speculations are rife on social media that the WhatsApp application will launch a new feature called "Chatting With".

Apparently, this feature will allow users to know who their contacts are chatting with.

However, there are no media reports yet confirming the new feature.

READ: 10 things you need to know about WhatsApp

Instead, a technology blog Trymodern.com claimed that the news is false as the image apparently showing the feature – which went viral since early this week – was Photoshopped.

So the blue tick wasn't enough? Whatsapp introduced new chatting with status pic.twitter.com/3YfSfveyOn
— Man in Green(@AwallRaza) November 10, 2015

Even though WhatsApp has not released any official statement, netizens were quick to share their reaction.

This follows WhatsApp 'blue tick' feature – launched last year – in which users are able to see if their message had been read by the recipient.

This feature received mixed reviews, especially when one's message is not replied despite the indication that it has been read.

Similarly, netizens felt that a "Chatting With" feature will cause the same problem if it is integrated with WhatsApp.

Whatsapp owner having trust issues. Now with blue tick, comes another one, chatting with .......
— hafizchong (@hafizchong) November 11, 2015

"Chatting with" feature on whatsapp? Like blue ticks was never enough. pic.twitter.com/x4kgc87LTe
— Njuru Mwangi (@Njurus) November 8, 2015

social media's becoming so messed up. first the snapchat policies and replacing the fav button then this chatting with feature on whatsapp
— tesfaye (@israxm) November 8, 2015

But whatsApp needs to stop with their snitching tendencies really this "chatting with" thing is total sabotage
— #OCTOBER (@TeeMuchie) November 11, 2015

If only WhatsApp launched 'Chatting with', because the blue ticks weren't enough of snitching. #HelloChallenge pic.twitter.com/nSckMZNuUN
— Rose Kwamboka (@kwambokar) November 11, 2015

If Whatsapp gets this update of "chatting with"...I'll definitely go psycho
— L (@laurensj_xx) November 10, 2015

Some even said the "Chatting With" feature should be called "Cheating With" instead.

Mungkin lama2 setelah feature chatting with , whatsapp akan mencoba develop "cheating with"... Secara fakta— https://t.co/2c1FLir7YG
— Widhi Susila Utama (@wickedwidhi) November 10, 2015

I swear most of these girls gonna see that "chatting with" as "cheating with" on whatsapp
— #HouseMusic (@Iam_KimmyBW) November 9, 2015

WhatsApp is among the most widely-used messaging service with 900 million active users as of September 2015, according to Forbes magazine.

This year, WhatsApp launched the free voice calling, while the blue tick feature was introduced in 2014 and voice messaging in 2013.