#What is an opt-out on WhatsApp?
An opt-out is the other half of an opt-in. A customer agreed to hear from you, and now says she does not want to. On WhatsApp, this happens in three ways.
- She types a word like STOP, "unsubscribe" or "band karo" in the chat.
- She uses the stop control inside WhatsApp, in a setting called Offers and announcements.
- She blocks or reports your number, which is the worst outcome for your quality rating.
Meta describes the second route on its marketing templates page (checked 26 Oct 2026):
WhatsApp users can use the Offers and announcements setting to stop or resume delivery of marketing template messages from your business.
If you still try to send a marketing template to such a person, Meta's API processes the request but does not deliver it. The status comes back as failed with code 131050. So Meta enforces this on its side too. A tool that keeps sending is simply wasting your effort and risking your quality rating. The post on messaging limits and quality rating explains why that matters.
#Why does Meta require opt-in for marketing messages?
Because Meta's opt-in page makes it a rule, in one line (checked 26 Oct 2026). Businesses are required to obtain opt-in before messaging people on WhatsApp. The opt-in may be general and not specifically for WhatsApp, as long as the business complies with all local laws.
Meta lists what a valid opt-in must do. The business must clearly state that the person is opting in to receive communication from it. It must clearly state the business's name. And it must comply with applicable law. Examples of accepted methods are SMS, a website, a phone call with an IVR flow, and in person or on paper.
Meta also gives two tips that small teams can use today. Get separate opt-in by message category, so a customer who wants order updates is not surprised by offers. And provide clear instructions for how people can opt out of specific categories, then honour them. The full text is on Meta's get opt-in page.
For a gym, a salon or a Shopify store using Chirpoo, the practical version is simple. Capture consent at the counter, on the checkout page or on a lead form, with the business name and the words "WhatsApp offers" in plain sight. Keep a record of when and how. In Chirpoo, consent comes from Shopify's WhatsApp marketing consent field, which syncs both ways, or from the customer sending START (or "shuru"). So ask a counter or form sign-up to send START once. See the Shopify marketing consent post.
#How does Chirpoo handle STOP and "band karo"?
Chirpoo treats STOP, "band karo" and Meta's own opt-out as the same instruction: end marketing sends to this person. Once a contact has opted out, Chirpoo will not include them in a broadcast and will refuse a marketing send to them, even if someone on your team tries by hand.
That has three effects on your daily work:
- A Chirpoo broadcast goes only to people who opted in and have not opted out. You pick contacts by tag, and Chirpoo filters the list.
- Your team does not have to remember who said STOP, because Chirpoo keeps the status. The status lives on the contact, not in somebody's head.
- Consent is tracked on each contact, so you can see who has opted in before you plan a campaign.
This does not stop normal service. If a customer who opted out of offers writes to you with a question, you can reply inside the 24-hour window like any other chat. The 24-hour window post covers that rule.
Broadcasts in Chirpoo go only to people who opted in. More in the broadcast guide.
#What can you still send to someone who opted out?
Opt-out under Meta's stop control applies to marketing templates. It does not turn the customer into a stranger. If she has an order, an appointment or a payment with you, she may still need to hear about it.
So these remain possible in principle:
- A utility message about something she asked for, such as an order update or an appointment reminder.
- A direct reply inside the 24-hour window to a question she sent.
Be careful with the line. Meta decides a template's category, and a message that sells something is marketing even if it is dressed as an update. A "your order shipped, also 20 percent off your next one" template is likely to be treated as marketing, so do not send it to people who said stop. The post on utility vs marketing templates shows how to keep them apart.
When in doubt, keep the update plain and leave the offer out. An opted-out customer who gets a useful shipping message stays a customer. One who gets another offer blocks you.
#What does India's DPDP Act say about consent?
India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 sets rules for processing personal data, and a phone number is personal data. Section 6(1) describes consent in plain terms (text from the Act as published, checked 26 Oct 2026):
The consent given by the Data Principal shall be free, specific, informed, unconditional and unambiguous with a clear affirmative action, and shall signify an agreement to the processing of her personal data for the specified purpose and be limited to such personal data as is necessary for such specified purpose.
Section 6(4) adds that the person has the right to withdraw consent at any time, with the ease of doing so being comparable to the ease with which consent was given. In everyday words: the customer should be able to say yes clearly, for a stated purpose, and say no just as easily. A one-word STOP fits that idea. This is not legal advice, and your own situation may need a lawyer. Read the Act itself, or ask a professional, for how it applies to your business.
Start free for 14 days, tag your contacts and open one test broadcast. The pre-flight count shows opted-out contacts left out before anything is sent. No card is needed.
Frequently asked questions about Chirpoo and this topic
Do I need permission to send WhatsApp marketing messages?
Yes. Meta's policy, checked 26 Oct 2026, requires businesses to obtain opt-in before messaging people on WhatsApp. The opt-in must state that the person agrees to hear from you and name your business. Chirpoo tracks marketing consent on each contact so broadcasts go only to people who opted in.
What does Chirpoo do when a customer sends STOP?
Chirpoo ends marketing sends to that contact. The same applies to "band karo" and to Meta's own opt-out. The contact is left out of broadcasts, and a manual marketing send to them is refused. Replies inside the 24-hour window to their own questions still work.
Can I still send order updates to someone who opted out?
Meta's stop control covers marketing templates. A genuine utility message about an order or appointment is a different category. Keep it free of offers, because Meta judges the content. Chirpoo blocks marketing to opted-out contacts, so the update must really be utility.
Is this legal advice on the DPDP Act?
No. The post quotes the Act's own words on consent and withdrawal and explains them in plain language. How the Act applies to your business, your records and your notices is a question for a qualified lawyer. Read the full Act before you design your opt-in form.