Meta has announced that WhatsApp will no longer require users to register a phone number but, rather, will enable messages to be exchanged through unique usernames instead.
The driving factor behind the change is to enable users to keep their number private in personal and group chats, while still being able to use WhatsApp to its fullest extent.
“When someone new walks into your life – a classmate, a neighbour, someone you meet at an event – sharing a phone number can feel like a big step,” the company says in a blog post. “That’s because a phone number is personal and it’s tied to so many parts of your life. Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits.”
“This is also true for group conversations. You want to join the parent chat for the soccer team but you’re not ready to give your phone number to people you’ve never met.”
WhatsApp says it is giving users the opportunity to reserve their username, beginning this week, ahead of the feature launching later on this year. The company is offering a username generator for those who’re either struggling to choose or are seeing their preferred option snapped up by the three billion people on the planet.
“Usernames are our latest step to make WhatsApp even more private. There’s no directory to browse and no suggestions – people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time. To help control who can reach you on WhatsApp with your username, we’ve built an optional username key that others will need to know to message you.”
It all sounds like an excellent way to continue using the service without sharing your number. However, it’s not like it would have been difficult to add this functionality from the get go.
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg parties with Trump. This is handy, yes. It helps, yes. But don’t ever think they’re doing anything for your benefit folks. They’re not. They ever have been, they never will be. Don’t trust them.
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