diff --git a/config/bridge.go b/config/bridge.go
index c08f010..406fc55 100644
--- a/config/bridge.go
+++ b/config/bridge.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ type BridgeConfig struct {
 	TagOnlyOnCreate       bool   `yaml:"tag_only_on_create"`
 	MarkReadOnlyOnCreate  bool   `yaml:"mark_read_only_on_create"`
 	EnableStatusBroadcast bool   `yaml:"enable_status_broadcast"`
+	MuteStatusBroadcast   bool   `yaml:"mute_status_broadcast"`
 	WhatsappThumbnail     bool   `yaml:"whatsapp_thumbnail"`
 	AllowUserInvite       bool   `yaml:"allow_user_invite"`
 	FederateRooms         bool   `yaml:"federate_rooms"`
diff --git a/config/upgrade.go b/config/upgrade.go
index 07fbe90..cad95d7 100644
--- a/config/upgrade.go
+++ b/config/upgrade.go
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ func (helper *UpgradeHelper) doUpgrade() {
 	helper.Copy(Str|Null, "bridge", "pinned_tag")
 	helper.Copy(Bool, "bridge", "tag_only_on_create")
 	helper.Copy(Bool, "bridge", "enable_status_broadcast")
+	helper.Copy(Bool, "bridge", "mute_status_broadcast")
 	helper.Copy(Bool, "bridge", "whatsapp_thumbnail")
 	helper.Copy(Bool, "bridge", "allow_user_invite")
 	helper.Copy(Str, "bridge", "command_prefix")
diff --git a/example-config.yaml b/example-config.yaml
index 1779be2..7a17eda 100644
--- a/example-config.yaml
+++ b/example-config.yaml
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@ bridge:
     # Should WhatsApp status messages be bridged into a Matrix room?
     # Disabling this won't affect already created status broadcast rooms.
     enable_status_broadcast: true
+    # Should the status broadcast room be muted and moved into low priority by default?
+    # This is only applied when creating the room, the user can unmute/untag it later.
+    mute_status_broadcast: false
     # Should the bridge use thumbnails from WhatsApp?
     # They're disabled by default due to very low resolution.
     whatsapp_thumbnail: false
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index c7b2321..ce0ac4a 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -573,6 +573,12 @@ func (user *User) syncChatDoublePuppetDetails(portal *Portal, justCreated bool)
 			return
 		}
 		intent := doublePuppet.CustomIntent()
+		if justCreated && user.bridge.Config.Bridge.MuteStatusBroadcast {
+			user.updateChatMute(intent, portal, time.Now().Add(365 * 24 * time.Hour))
+			user.updateChatTag(intent, portal, user.bridge.Config.Bridge.ArchiveTag, true)
+		} else if !chat.Found {
+			return
+		}
 		user.updateChatMute(intent, portal, chat.MutedUntil)
 		user.updateChatTag(intent, portal, user.bridge.Config.Bridge.ArchiveTag, chat.Archived)
 		user.updateChatTag(intent, portal, user.bridge.Config.Bridge.PinnedTag, chat.Pinned)