Users are increasingly demanding greater privacy when using the different social networks that exist. This is especially the case with WhatsApp, since in order to talk to other users on the network, you must share your phone number. Well, WhatsApp is working on implementing a function that allows us to choose a username to share instead of the phone number.
If you want to talk to another person on this social network, you inevitably have to share your phone number, which is a security and privacy risk. Telegram, for example, allows you to easily share your username and hide your phone number.
Sharing this information is currently a risk, and it can be used to commit various scams. The new “choose username” feature has no expected date, as it is currently in the development phase.
WhatsApp will implement the username function
Last year, the social network first reported working on a “create username” feature. The idea is to allow users to personalize their profile and connect with other users using a unique identifier.
The new feature will allow users to find and connect with friends, family and contacts without sharing their phone number. This new feature adds a new layer of privacy. The new feature is currently in development and will be accompanied by a completely redesigned interface.
There is no exact date for the launch of this new feature, but we can get a glimpse of what the creation screen will look like. With this feature, users will be able to create a personalized name within the social network. They simply have to share it with other people so they can start communicating.
We see that a button has been added to check availability, just like it happens on social networks like Twitter (now X), Facebook or Instagram, among others. It seems that these names will not have a discriminator or label, as happens for example on Discord.
It will be a unique identifier that cannot be duplicated. It focuses on improving privacy and simplifying the process of searching and connecting with other people. It puts an end to sharing our personal number, something that users have always complained about.
Those with whom we have shared our number will still be able to find us using it. Both methods will be available at the same time, otherwise we could lose most of our contacts. We can also continue to share our number if we trust the other person.
You should know that the social network establishes an exhaustive development and testing process before implementing improvements. They seek to offer the user a safe and error-free experience, which is why they take so long to implement major improvements. It will probably take some time for this new feature to be deployed, as there is no precise schedule.
What seems certain (and inevitable) is that the feature will arrive and be available to all users. You are surely looking forward to seeing it rolled out and thus improving your privacy.
