Significant change in WhatsApp: How to correspond without exposing your number
The popular messaging app will allow users to chat using unique usernames, without the need to expose their personal phone number • The feature will be launched globally to 3 billion users in the coming…
Assessment
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that lets users chat with a unique username instead of sharing their phone number, a significant privacy shift for the platform's 3 billion users. The change addresses a long-standing vulnerability where phone numbers exposed users to unwanted contact or data leaks. However, experts caution that the move does not alter WhatsApp's broader data collection practices, meaning the underlying privacy trade-offs remain intact. The rollout over the coming months will test whether users prioritize convenience over the platform's continued information gathering.