Meta, the
company that owns WhatsApp, is testing a new feature to enhance user privacy.
In a bold
move, WhatsApp has begun testing a new feature that allows users to create a
unique username that allows them to communicate without having to share their
phone numbers. This feature redefines the concept of privacy within the app,
which is used by more than two billion people worldwide.
How does the
new feature work?
The new
feature appeared in the beta versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS devices.
Now, some users can create their own username instead of using their personal
numbers. This username can be used for chatting or searching for accounts
within WhatsApp without revealing the personal number to others.
WABetaInfo,
a platform that specializes in tracking WhatsApp updates, explained that the
company is currently testing a mechanism to verify the availability of names
and prevent duplicate names. The goal is to gradually launch the feature over
the coming weeks.
Enhancing Privacy and Reducing Reliance on Personal Numbers
This step is
part of Meta's efforts, which owns WhatsApp, to enhance privacy and reduce the
reliance on personal numbers as users' primary identifier. According to global
technology reports such as Interesting Engineering and Euro Weekly News,
WhatsApp is planning to introduce an option that allows users to share only
their name when starting a chat or joining a group, while also hiding their phone
number from unknown contacts.
Benefits of
the new feature for WhatsApp users
The main
goal of this feature is to protect users from spam messages and facilitate
interactions between individuals and businesses without compromising privacy.
Although WhatsApp registration still requires a phone number for activation,
the next phase may witness a gradual shift toward a more secure digital
identity.
Practical
example:
Imagine you
want to contact an online store to purchase a specific product. Using a unique
name instead of a phone number, you can easily start a conversation without
worrying about sharing sensitive personal information such as your phone
number.
The impact
of technology on daily life and the future
Daily
impact:
This feature will help people better maintain their privacy when using WhatsApp to communicate with new people or businesses. They will no longer have to worry about receiving unwanted calls or spam messages.
