The messaging app "WhatsApp" has launched vanishing mode that allows you to control who can see your online status through the app.

The tool is one of three new privacy features announced by Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, the parent company of "WhatsApp".

Zuckerberg said: "We will continue to build new ways to protect your messages and keep them private and secure like face-to-face conversations."

The three new privacy tools were launched as "extra layers of protection when messaging", according to "WhatsApp".

Zuckerberg said: "The new privacy features come to WhatsApp: leaving group chats without notifying everyone, controlling who can see you when you are online, and preventing screenshots of view-once messages."

Vanishing mode is being rolled out to all users this month, and it will allow you to choose who can see you when you are online.

WhatsApp also adds the ability for users worldwide to leave groups silently this month, without needing to notify everyone.

Instead, only admins will be informed when someone leaves a group.

Finally, WhatsApp is testing adding screenshot blocking for view-once messages.

WhatsApp explained that "View Once is already an incredibly popular way to share photos or media that don’t need a permanent digital record. We are now enabling screenshot blocking for view-once messages for an extra layer of protection."