Quick Answer
When you see the message “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” on WhatsApp, it means the person sending the message has just signed up for a WhatsApp account and is introducing themselves on the platform. This automatic message is sent to all the contacts in the new user’s phonebook who also have WhatsApp installed.
The “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message serves two purposes:
1. It lets the sender’s contacts know they are now active on WhatsApp.
2. It populates the new user’s WhatsApp contact list with people they already know and have phone numbers for.
So in summary, receiving this message just means your friend, family member or colleague has just joined WhatsApp and it is their way of saying hello on the messaging platform.
What Triggers the “Hey There” Message
The “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message is triggered when someone installs WhatsApp for the first time and verifies their phone number.
At the point of verification, WhatsApp accesses the new user’s mobile phone contacts and checks to see which ones are also using WhatsApp. It then immediately sends the default “Hey there” introduction message to each of those contacts on the user’s behalf.
The message is customized to include the sender’s name as saved in the recipient’s phonebook. So if you have a friend named John whose number is in your contacts, you will get a message from him saying “Hey there I am John using WhatsApp”.
This default message cannot be customized or changed by the user. The instant it is sent out, all the sender can do is wait for replies to start flowing in from recipients welcoming them to WhatsApp.
So in a nutshell, the “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message you receive from new WhatsApp users is triggered automatically when they install and verify their number on the platform.
Typical Wording of the Message
While the wording may vary slightly across different language versions of WhatsApp, the “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message generally follows a standard template:
– It starts with a greeting like “Hey there” or “Hi”.
– It introduces the sender’s name.
– It announces the sender is now on WhatsApp.
– It ends by repeating the messaging platform’s name.
For example:
“Hey there, this is John using WhatsApp.”
“Hi, this is Mary. I am now on WhatsApp.”
The message is short, simple and informs the recipient the sender has just started using the messaging app. The exact wording may differ depending on language but the overall message remains the same.
This standard message takes the guesswork out of having to come up with an original introduction on WhatsApp. It lets new users conveniently notify all their contacts they are now on the platform just by verifying their number.
What To Do When You Receive the Message
When you receive a “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message from a new contact, there are a few things you can do:
– Reply to the message and welcome them to WhatsApp. You can say something like “Hey John, great to have you on WhatsApp!” or “Welcome to WhatsApp, Mary! Let me know if you need any help getting started.”
– Add the contact to your phone book if you don’t already have their number stored. This will associate their name and number in your WhatsApp contacts.
– Start chatting with the person and catch up since you now have an easy way to reach them on WhatsApp.
– Share your WhatsApp status or send them a photo to start off the conversation.
– Create a new WhatsApp group and add the new contact to it if you share a common interest or friend circle.
– Ask them if they want to be added to any existing WhatsApp groups you are a part of.
The main thing is to just respond so they know you received their joining message and are happy to have them on WhatsApp. This helps them start off their WhatsApp experience positively.
Why WhatsApp Sends the Message
WhatsApp automatically sends the “hey there” message on behalf of new users for a couple of key reasons:
1. To Quickly Populate the User’s Contact List
By auto-messaging a new user’s existing phone contacts who are already on WhatsApp, their WhatsApp contact list gets quickly populated with familiar faces. This avoids them having an empty contact list which could be discouraging.
2. To Inform Contacts the User is Now on WhatsApp
The instant notification lets the user’s friends, family and connections know they can now WhatsApp them anytime. This makes the user instantly available and connected on WhatsApp.
3. To Encourage Engagement on WhatsApp
By prompting existing users to welcome new users, it facilitates quick engagement. Replying to the “hey there” message gets new users engaged right away.
4. To Signal the User’s Consent
The automated message serves as consent from the user that it’s okay for WhatsApp to inform their contacts they have joined. This avoids privacy issues.
5. To Make Things Easy for New Users
Crafting an original message announcing one’s presence on WhatsApp can be tedious. The automated message does that work for new users so they can start out hassle-free.
In summary, WhatsApp sends the “hey there” join message on behalf of new users as a friction-free way to connect them with existing users from the start.
Variations of the Message
While the default “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message is standard, in some cases it can show up with slight variations:
– Different language: The message may be translated like “Hola, estoy usando WhatsApp” in Spanish.
– Alternate greeting: It may say “Hi” or “Hello” instead of “Hey there”.
– Without name: The message may not include the user’s name and just say “I’m using WhatsApp”.
– Additional text: Some network providers may insert additional text like “Enjoy chatting on WhatsApp powered by [Network Name]”.
– Custom edit: Extremely rarely, the message could be manually edited by a user before sending but it’s not common.
– Group messaging: When a user joins WhatsApp, the message may be sent as a group message to multiple recipients showing just the user’s phone number instead of their name.
So in essence, the core message stays intact but presentation may vary slightly in terms of language, formatting or additional text. But recipients can still recognize it as the WhatsApp joining message.
How You Can Use the Message
When you receive the new user message from someone, there are some fun ways you can make use of it:
– Take a screenshot and share it on social media to announce your friend is on WhatsApp now.
– Save the message if it’s from someone you were trying hard to get onto WhatsApp.
– Forward it to mutual friends who were also waiting for the person to join.
– Send a celebratory gif or emoji conveying excitement.
– Use the message as proof you need to add the person to WhatsApp groups.
– Set the message as their chat wallpaper to memorialize the moment.
– Text back a voice note welcoming them if you want a more personal touch.
– Create fun WhatsApp polls like “Who else do we need on WhatsApp?” and include the new user.
So get playful with that joining message! Though it’s automated, it signals someone new to chat with on WhatsApp.
Does the Sender Know the Message is Sent?
Most WhatsApp users who get that “Hey there” message wonder one thing – did the sender actually write and send this, or is it automated?
The answer is the message is 100% automated by WhatsApp. New users do not manually compose and send these introduction messages.
Here are some key points:
– The messages are sent instantly when a user verifies their number, before they can access WhatsApp. So they don’t send it voluntarily.
– WhatsApp pulls these contacts from the user’s phonebook and messages them without user action.
– The user cannot customize or preview the message before it is sent out.
– Most users actually get surprised when they start receiving replies to the “Hey there” message that they never manually sent.
– There’s no way to undo the message since it happens behind the scenes before the user gains account access.
So while it seems like the sender personally messaged you, it’s entirely automated by WhatsApp without the user’s input or knowledge. But they are still genuinely joining WhatsApp for the first time.
Can You Turn Off the Message?
Since the “Hey there I am using WhatsApp” message is automated by WhatsApp, most users wonder – can I turn it off before joining?
Unfortunately, there is no setting to disable this auto-message to contacts before creating your WhatsApp account. It is a default part of the join flow.
Your only options are:
1. Delete Contacts
Before joining WhatsApp, you can delete contacts you don’t want notified. But this is tedious and unrealistic for most.
2. Uninstall Immediately
If you uninstall WhatsApp right after the messages fire off, some contacts may not see it if they don’t open the app immediately. But there’s no guarantee.
3. Explain to Contacts
Let your contacts know in advance you’re joining WhatsApp soon so if they get an auto-message, not to be surprised.
So in summary, there is no built-in way to avoid the automated messages to your contacts when starting WhatsApp for the first time. Best you can do is explain the situation before or after joining.
Will All My Contacts Get the Message?
Since WhatsApp pulls your phone contacts when you join, does it message every single contact by default?
The answer is no – it will only message contacts who meet two criteria:
1. They are in your phone’s contact list.
2. They already have an active WhatsApp account.
So the “hey there” message will NOT go to:
– Contacts who are not on WhatsApp already
– Numbers not stored in your phone’s contacts
– Contacts you’ve deleted from your phonebook
– Numbers added directly to WhatsApp but not phone contacts
In essence, your entire phonebook does NOT get the auto-message, only existing WhatsApp users in your contacts. So no need to panic and delete all contacts before joining!
Can I Prevent Specific Contacts From Getting the Message?
We’ve established all your WhatsApp contacts will automatically get the “Hey there I’m on WhatsApp” message when you join. But what if you want to prevent it from reaching specific people?
While there’s no built-in way to exclude contacts from the default message, there are some workarounds:
– **Delete contact** – Remove the contact from your phonebook before installing WhatsApp so they are not messaged.
– **Block contact** – Block the contact after creating your WhatsApp account so they do not see your joining message.
– **Unshare number** – Temporarily unshare your phone number with the contact until after you join WhatsApp.
– **Disable notifications** – Have the contact disable WhatsApp notifications temporarily so they don’t see the message right away.
– **Manual intervention** – Have someone manually delete the message from the contact’s WhatsApp before they see it.
But bear in mind – these are just partial workarounds. If the contact enables notifications or checks WhatsApp actively, they still may see the message before you can take action. There is no foolproof way to avoid specific contacts getting the message short of not having their numbers in your phone or not joining WhatsApp.
What Happens if I Already Have WhatsApp?
The automated new user messages only send the first time you activate WhatsApp on a device. But what happens if you already use WhatsApp and are reinstalling it or getting a new device?
In those cases:
– Your existing WhatsApp contacts do NOT get a “hey there” message again.
– Your WhatsApp chat history is retained as long as you restore it properly.
– Your account picks up where you left off since your number is already registered with WhatsApp.
– You may need to reverity your number but your contacts are not mass notified again.
So you only send the joining broadcast once – when you first create your WhatsApp account on a number. Subsequent activations on new devices don’t re-trigger it as long as you register with the same number.
Can Businesses Send the Auto-Message Too?
The “Hey there I’m on WhatsApp” message is intended for personal use to notify your private contacts. But can businesses also leverage it to announce themselves on WhatsApp?
Unfortunately, businesses cannot automatically message their customers en masse using the default WhatsApp joining message.
Reasons:
– It only works when verifying a standard mobile number, not WhatsApp Business API.
– Businesses cannot legally message customers without consent so it violates opt-in requirements.
– Bulk messaging users who are not already customers risks spam complaints.
– Customers may unsubscribe and mark the business as spam for messaging without context.
– Large-scale messaging limits may restrict businesses from mass messaging all contacts.
So the joining message is meant for individual use. Businesses need to find compliant ways to collect opt-ins before WhatsApp outreach.
Conclusion
The “Hey there I’m on WhatsApp” message you see is an automated courtesy message sent by WhatsApp to a new user’s existing connections also on the platform. It allows them to conveniently announce their presence on WhatsApp in a personalized, friendly manner without having to manually message each contact. While users cannot customize or disable it, the message still signifies someone ready to start chatting. Replying back welcoming them positively reinforces their onboarding to WhatsApp.