WhatsApp may push for phone number privacy with rumoured username feature

WhatsApp could introduce a username system in a future update. 

In a recent TestFlight beta version of the iOS version of WhatsApp (version 25.17.10.70), WaBetaInfo uncovered details that hint at this feature. Having a username system would enable users to hide their phone numbers for better privacy. It's a feature that most other messaging platforms— like Telegram and Signal—have adopted.

The setup screen outlines clear rules for creating a username, requiring at least one letter and permitting only specific characters, such as lowercase letters, numbers, and periods, to maintain consistency and security.

Usernames also cannot begin with "www." or end with a domain (e.g., .com or .net) to prevent potential scams. There is also a character limit of between 3 and 30. 

Once a username has been created, people will see it instead of the user's phone number when starting a new conversation or within group chats. 

It's encouraging to see WhatsApp making steady progress where user privacy is concerned. It recently introduced an Advanced Chat Privacy toggle that blocks people from exporting chat content, auto-downloading media to phones, and AI features from using messages in group chats. 

Source: WaBetaInfo

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