WhatsApp is testing a new privacy feature that will allow users to reserve usernames, possibly decoupling their phone numbers from teh messaging app. The beta version of the feature, first noted in growth in 2023, aims to enhance user privacy by enabling communication with new contacts without promptly sharing phone numbers.
This move comes as other messaging platforms prioritize privacy enhancements. Unlike WhatsApp, Signal implemented a similar username feature for all users in March of last year, after a brief beta period. WhatsApp’s planned feature will also introduce a PIN requirement for new contacts-those not already in a user’s address book-before they can initiate a message,adding an extra layer of security beyond the existing chat protection options. While WhatsApp has not announced a release date, the development signals a shift towards greater privacy controls for its billions of users.
