WhatsApp to let people chat without swapping phone numbers
Summary
WhatsApp will let users chat without sharing their phone numbers by using unique usernames instead. This new feature will be available worldwide to WhatsApp’s three billion users in the coming months.Key Facts
- Users can reserve a unique username through the app starting soon, but it is optional.
- Usernames can be changed or removed at any time.
- Once fully active, users will connect by exchanging usernames, not phone numbers.
- Phone numbers will still be needed to create a WhatsApp account.
- Usernames can be up to 35 characters long and have few restrictions, except for some public figures.
- There will be no public directory of usernames, and users can still block or report others.
- This feature aims to improve privacy by hiding phone numbers during chats.
- WhatsApp is owned by Meta, a company criticized for how it handles user data and privacy.
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