WhatsApp could soon introduce usernames and move away from using phone numbers as the core identifier for users.
Your phone number has always been at the core of the WhatsApp experience, from creating an account, to identifying yourself to others on the platform. But things could be changing soon, as revealed by the latest beta version of the app.
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The recent release of WhatsApp beta update suggests the company could introduce usernames as part of the user experience. A report from WABetaInfo, reveals that the app could add a username section within the Profile page in Settings.
The report was later confirmed by TechCrunch who analyzed the code of the latest Android app and found references to the username field.
Other messaging apps have made the choice to identify users with usernames rather than their contact information in bid to protect users from unwanted communication outside of the apps. On WhatsApp, any user within a chat can see your phone number. When the username feature tolls out, WhatsApp will certainly let users hide their phone numbers, replacing them with usernames instead to identify who is who in chats.