There are several ways to filter your conversations with people on WhatsApp. If someone keeps sending you a lot of offensive, hateful or obscene content that you are offended by, WhatsApp will let you block or report them. You can even do both. We have an explanatory guide on how to block people on WhatsApp and what happens next. In this post, we’ll explain everything that happens when you report someone on WhatsApp.
The report feature was introduced nearly five years ago to help WhatsApp identify people who use the instant messaging platform to spread spam and malicious content. Rumors, fake news, fake messages, etc. They are examples of content that WhatsApp classifies as spam. If you are constantly receiving any of these from someone on WhatsApp, you should report them. If unwanted content is being distributed in a group chat, you can also report the group.
In the section below, we’ll share with you what happens when you report someone or a group on WhatsApp.
1. Reporting a Person
When you want to report someone on WhatsApp you are given two options: ‘Report’ only and ‘Report & Block’. We’ll explain how both options work and their after-effects in the following sections.
As soon as you hit this ‘Report’ or ‘Report & Block’ button, your last interactions with the reported number are sent to WhatsApp for research purposes. Let’s move on to answering some common questions you might have about what happens next.
Can a Reported Number Still Text You?
It all depends on the choice you make when you report the person. If you select ‘Report & Block’, that person will not be able to send you new messages. On the other hand, if you choose the ‘Report’ option when reporting the contact, that person can still bombard your inbox with texts, media files or voice notes.
Whichever option you choose, WhatsApp will save the report you sent and add the number to a ‘Watch List’ where the person’s activities will be closely monitored. Also, an investigation will be made about the person’s activities on the platform and they may eventually be banned from using WhatsApp.
How Long Does It Take for WhatsApp to Ban a Reported Number?
At this point, nobody really knows. As stated above, WhatsApp will initiate an investigation against the reported person(s). If WhatsApp finds reason to believe that their account activity actually violates WhatsApp’s Terms of Service, the number may be banned (temporarily or permanently) from using WhatsApp.
Note: Reporting a number does not guarantee that the person will be banned from using WhatsApp. Banning a reported number is at the discretion of WhatsApp.
Can a Reported Number Call You?
Again, this depends on the options selected when you report the number. If you select ‘Report & Block’ a user, WhatsApp will not forward their calls to you. When someone ‘reported and blocked’ calls you, the call will ring continuously, but you will not receive or be notified of the call.
On the other hand, reporting someone without blocking allows them to reach you via audio or video calls even after your report has been posted/sent to WhatsApp.
What Happens to Previous Chats/Messages?
When you report someone to WhatsApp, previous conversations with the reported contact will still appear on your phone. However, if you select the ‘Report & Block’ option, your chats with the person will be completely deleted.
2. Reporting a Group
Reporting a group is very similar to reporting a person. So when you want to report a group, WhatsApp gives you the same two options: ‘Report’ and ‘Report and Exit’.
When you choose ‘Report and Exit’ you will leave the group and at the same time a complaint will be sent to WhatsApp about the group’s activities. This means that you will no longer be a participant/member of the group. As a result, the group (and the group’s messages) will also be deleted from your phone.
On the other hand, simply selecting ‘Report’ without leaving a group will not change your status in the group. Your report on the group’s activity will be sent to WhatsApp, but you will still remain an active member. Everything will look pretty normal.
Then what happens to a group you report to?
Group to Follow
This is also similar to reporting a person. When WhatsApp receives a report about the potentially offensive activities of a group, the reported group is closely monitored. WhatsApp may not take any immediate action against the group. The group may continue to exist and remain functional even after you notify it.
Group Can Be Disabled
So what happens to a group that spreads false information and other spam messages? Is reporting the group effective? Well, only when more members or contributors report the group as spam. If WhatsApp finds a group guilty of spamming people after receiving numerous reports, the company will most likely disable the group.
What Happens to Group Members?
Nothing happens to group members. They will not be banned and no penalties/sanctions will be applied to them. All members of a deactivated group can no longer send or receive messages in the reported group.
Spam Isn’t Cool
Reporting someone who is constantly harassing you with spam-like content on WhatsApp is the right thing to do, especially from an unknown number. By doing this, you are sending a signal to WhatsApp that the person is a spammer. WhatsApp will then decide whether to ban the person/number based on the results of their investigations. If the person continues to spam you with unwanted messages, you should continue to block them. And if this is a group, you should leave the group for your sanity.
Next: Do you want to swipe your WhatsApp from one number to another? Before doing that, read what happens when you change the number on WhatsApp from the article linked below.