WhatsApp has lengthy relied on phone numbers as the one identity for accounts. Users want a telephone quantity to create an account. Anyone in a person or a bunch chat can see your telephone quantity. This may be changing, as WhatsApp is working on introducing usernames.
The latest beta model of WhatsApp’s app suggests that the corporate could introduce this characteristic sooner or later, based on a report from WABetaInfo. The report famous that the username part shall be visible on the Profile page in Settings.
Image Credits: WABetaInfo
Separately, TechCrunch was capable of affirm WABetaInfo’s report. We seemed on the code of the most recent Android app and located references to the username field.
Image Credits: TechCrunch
It’s not clear what course of the Meta-owned app might introduce for users to choose a username, as there are presently 2 billion folks using the messaging app. The firm didn’t comment on the story and didn’t share any details about the characteristic.
WhatsApp’s competing messaging app Telegram has given the ability for customers to hide their contact and show their usernames instead. Last year, Telegram additionally launched auctions for premium usernames based on the TON blockchain. It might be fascinating to see how WhatsApp approaches claims for premium usernames and the means it plans to guard them.
At the moment, WhatsApp users in teams and communities can see every others’ phone numbers. When this function rolls out, the app will most likely let folks cover their cellphone numbers from people who find themselves not in their contact guide.
Earlier this month, WhatsApp rolled out a new privacy function that permits customers to hide and lock particular person conversations. These conversations can solely be unlocked with a device’s biometric authentication or password.
