WhatsApp users warned about new update which lets friends see your phone

WhatsApp users have been warned to be extra careful following a new update for the popular messaging app which allows you to share your screen.

It's a feature that is already part and parcel of plenty of other communication platforms, especially those which host video messaging, and now it's come to WhatsApp too.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

If you're on a call with someone on WhatsApp you'll soon get the option to press the new 'share' button and show whomever you're talking to exactly what's going on with your screen.

This can be pretty handy if you want to show something off quickly or if you need to demonstrate how to do something.

Imagine the number of calls with elderly or technophobic relatives which could be so much easier if you could just show them exactly what to do.

WhatsApp parent company Meta released a statement announcing the things you could do with the new update and showed Mark Zuckerberg on a WhatsApp call with someone sharing their screen.

They said: "Whether sharing documents for work, browsing photos with family, planning a vacation or shopping online with friends, or just helping grandparents with tech support – screen sharing lets you share a live view of your screen during the call."

However, whenever something like this happens there's always some way it goes wrong for somebody in the world.

You'll have heard of the plethora of mishaps from people getting to grips with video calling technology before they'd really sorted out the crucial dos and don'ts.

With the latest update from WhatsApp, it's really important to stress that if you need to share your screen your phone could show off exactly what you're doing, so close anything you don't want another person seeing before sharing your screen.

Cem Genco/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Fortunately they've made it as safe as possible, so when you press the 'share' button on WhatsApp you'll be asked if you want to share a specific app or let the other person see your whole screen.

No system is entirely error-proof, so there's always the risk that someone will share their screen and reveal something embarrassing, but at least you can say you were warned.

The safest approach is to go through your phone before a video call and get rid of any stuff you don't want other people to see - that's really all you can do.

Just be aware of what you're broadcasting out to people and make sure you know exactly what other people can see and you ought to be fine.