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WhatsApp Usernames May Let You Keep Your Phone Number Private
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Populus
macrumors 604
I’d love it if WhatsApp stopped using the phone number as an identifier. I’m still not fan of any Meta owned company, but here in Spain not having WhatsApp installed is almost like not existing, since almost everyone has it installed and if you don’t have it, you’re out of many circles.
cocoua
macrumors 65816
well, a phone number is always linked to a real name (off law sim cards are available, but then you need extra work for that, ), you receive a menace? just give it to the police. But give them a nickname and lets wait the police to call whatsapp customer support
you are welcome to the new era of anonymous spam under nicknames. get ready
exposing the real phone number makes wahtsapp far more secure for common people, of course malicious acts are possible always even against the goverment website, but this doesnt means you dont have to try to reduce them when possible.
phone number made wahtsapp what it is
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rafark
macrumors 68020
Uh, they have required a phone number even before they were bought by Facebook.
ErikGrim
macrumors 604
Went to Malaysia on a holiday and absolutely shocked at how they just assume you have it. Any official information, from hotels, to their Uber (Grab) app to OTP codes all come through WhatsApp even when you give them your phone number. It's a de facto default. Bonkers.
Will be good to have. But wonder when they will roll it out.
I am unable to use my WhatsApp account on multiple devices even now. Already it is one month since WhatsApp on multiple devices were announced.
I am unable to use my WhatsApp account on multiple devices even now. Already it is one month since WhatsApp on multiple devices were announced.
I want native Apple Silicon support!! WhatsApp for Mac is still an Intel only application that requires Rosetta 2 translation. Boo!!!
WhatsApp appears to have a username feature in the works that could potentially provide people on the messaging service with an additional layer of privacy.
As things stand, if someone wants to add you as a WhatsApp contact, you're required to share your phone number with them, even if they add you via the QR code method.
That's how it's always worked in WhatsApp, but it looks as if Meta's developers understand that users might sometimes prefer to add certain contacts without revealing their phone number.
WABetaInfo has spotted a WhatsApp username field in the latest beta Android app, allowing users to choose unique usernames for their accounts. The likelihood is that WhatsApp intends to let users reach other people by entering a username instead, much like Telegram.
As the feature is still in development, it's too early to tell how usernames will work when they are rolled out. They may allow users to safeguard their phone numbers when communicating with particular accounts, like businesses, but the hope is that they will provide more general private communication between users.
WhatsApp has been on a roll recently in announcing new features, including the ability to edit sent messages, a new chat Lock feature, and the ability to use the same account on multiple phones. There's still no sign of an iPad app, though.
Article Link: WhatsApp Usernames May Let You Keep Your Phone Number Private
That used to be the case, but not anymore
And it has always been possible to App someone from a browser with this URL:
The most annoying part about WhatsApp is that it's barely usable if you don't give it full access to your contacts which I refuse to do. Extremely annoying. Hopefully they are fixing this as well as part of this username change.
I haven't granted access to my contacts as well. But since everyone has their picture in the avatar I don't need to to see their names in the chatlist.
That's how it got to be popular and grow the user base. It would go through your contacts and match them with other users. They simpified find-a-friend solution but in return they stole your phonebook. Not that Google didn't have your phonebook before it but still. Whatsapp was the first ever mobile app that was sold for over a billion (20 billion actually) becuase Facebook wanted those phone 40 million active phone numbers.
shoehorn42
macrumors newbie
CARIB_APPLE
macrumors regular
Since when? I just checked and I do not get this option on the App. And it is up to dateThat used to be the case, but not anymore
View attachment 2207786
And it has always been possible to App someone from a browser with this URL:
Fairly recent, just a few months back IIRC. Strange that you don't have this option. Top right, 'new' icon
Attachments
Rendergroup
macrumors regular
I remember Blackberry used PIN, never revealed the phone number, they're Reinventing the wheel...
Not the beta though
Well, while the US was still using SMS for messaging cause it was included in the plans, all other countries switched to WhatsApp (or other services like Line) because each SMS cost in the other countries. In Germany most providers included a SMS flatware when it was too late and people have been using WhatsApp for a while already.
ErikGrim
macrumors 604
I'm well aware of the why it happened. It's just so shocking to see a third party app (owned by Meta nonetheless). Be so entrenched. It's like an alternate reality where we all still communicated, even officially, using AIM or MSN messenger.
Pretty simple really. The phone companies got greedy with SMS charges, and WhatsApp had first mover advantage with their extremely easy to use cross platform solution.