WhatsApp Enhances Privacy with Upcoming Phone Number Visibility Feature
WhatsApp has begun testing an innovative phone number visibility feature aimed at enhancing user privacy. Initially introduced in June, the Username feature allows users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. Although the Username feature has not yet been fully rolled out, users can reserve their usernames in preparation for its broader implementation.
According to insights shared by WABetaInfo, the development was discovered in WhatsApp’s beta version 2.26.45.1 for Android. This new privacy configuration presents users with four distinct visibility options: “Everyone,” “My contacts,” “My contacts except…,” and “Nobody.” These settings empower users to determine who can view their phone numbers during calls and chats.
It is important to note that this feature will only be accessible to users who have adopted a username. If an individual is already aware of a user’s phone number, that number will remain visible during calls and chats.
Currently, WhatsApp ensures that phone numbers are hidden from users who reach out via usernames. With the introduction of this new feature, the default setting for visibility will be “Nobody,” automatically concealing users’ phone numbers. Users wishing to make their numbers visible for business or other purposes will have the flexibility to adjust this setting as needed.
As this phone number privacy feature is still in development, it is not yet available to even beta users. Further updates will follow as WhatsApp prepares for its eventual rollout to beta testers, followed by a public launch.
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Chief Editor of Quincy City Beat — Quincy, MA's independent investigative newspaper covering Greater Boston and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts with fearless public accountability and free access for all readers.
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