WhatsApp Update Spurs Outrage as Users Decry New ‘Leave Me Alone’ Feature
WhatsApp’s New Meta AI Button Sparks Backlash in the UK
WhatsApp, the messaging app used by over two billion people worldwide, has quietly rolled out a new feature that’s causing frustration among UK users. A blue circle icon now appears in the bottom-right corner of chats, serving as a shortcut to Meta AI—the tech giant’s AI-powered chatbot. While the tool has been available in the US for months, its UK debut has been met with criticism over its unremovable presence and privacy concerns.
What Does Meta AI Do?
Meta describes the AI as an optional assistant to “answer questions, teach you something, or help come up with new ideas.” It can suggest recipes based on fridge contents, settle group chat debates, or recommend restaurants. However, its sudden appearance has irked users who find the button intrusive.
The blue Meta AI button appears in the bottom-right corner of WhatsApp chats.
User Outrage Over the Unremovable Feature
Many took to social media to vent. One user tweeted, “How do I get rid of Meta AI? The button is constantly in the way, and I’ll never use it.” Another joked about throwing their phone into a canal, while others threatened to switch messaging apps entirely.
Users criticized the non-removable button, calling it disruptive.
Privacy Concerns and Confusing Advice
Some users tried asking Meta AI how to disable the button, only to receive incorrect instructions. The chatbot suggested navigating to a non-existent settings option, leading one person to quip, “The AI hallucinated how to remove itself.”
Privacy fears also emerged, with users questioning whether the tool could access private chats. Meta clarified that Meta AI only reads messages directly sent to it, and personal conversations remain end-to-end encrypted. “No one outside the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read them,” the company stated.
Meta insists private messages remain secure, but skepticism persists.
Why Can’t Users Remove the Button?
Unlike features such as Status or Communities, the Meta AI button lacks a disable option. This forced integration reflects Meta’s broader push to embed AI across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. While the tool aims to streamline tasks, its mandatory placement has overshadowed its utility for many.
The Bigger Picture
Meta’s aggressive AI rollout highlights the tension between innovation and user autonomy. As one frustrated user wrote, “STOP FORCING AI ON MEEE.” For now, the button remains a fixture, leaving WhatsApp users to adapt—or seek alternatives.
Critics argue the feature should be optional, not mandatory.
WhatsApp has yet to comment on whether it will add a removal option. Until then, the blue circle serves as a reminder of Meta’s AI ambitions—and the backlash they can ignite.
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