WhatsApp implements usernames to hide phone numbers

Android Guides » General » WhatsApp implements usernames to hide phone numbers

Until very recently, to contact you via WhatsApp you had no choice but to give out your phone number, a rather personal piece of information that ended up in anyone's hands. However, the most popular messaging app in Spain has decided that it's time to to give privacy a facelift of its users allowing a much more discreet form of contact.

This new feature allows us to identify ourselves with a unique username, which will be incredibly useful if we want to contact a business or join a group of people we don't know without exposing our private information. The rollout of this tool It is being carried out in a phased manner worldwide, so don't be surprised if you don't yet see the active option in your mobile device settings.

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WhatsApp will allow users to hide their phone number using usernames.

Goodbye to sharing your number with strangers

It works quite simply and is very similar to what we already do on other popular social networks. Each person can choose a unique identifier followed by an "@" symbol, which will allow us to be found. without needing to know the digits of our SIM cardThis represents a radical change in the platform's philosophy, which since its inception has been inextricably linked to the telephone number.

However, it's important to note that this name isn't just the username we use in our profile; it's a unique code that can't be used by any other user. For the system to function correctly, the company has stipulated that these names must have between 3 and 35 charactersallowing the use of lowercase letters, numbers, and some specific punctuation symbols such as the period or the underscore.

Steps to secure your favorite alias

Although the feature is still being finalized, the app has already opened the floodgates for early adopters to reserve their favorite name. The process is done directly from the app itself: just open the configuration sectionTo do this, tap on your profile or account and look for the username option. That's a good idea. keep an eye on things from time to time to grab ours before someone else does.

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If for any reason you're not happy with the name you initially chose, no problem, because you can change it later from the same menu. However, it has been confirmed that there will be a limit on the number of changes which we can do, so it's best to think about it a couple of times before confirming the final alias so we don't get stuck with one we don't like.

An extra layer of security with personalized keys

As if hiding your number wasn't enough, an extra layer of protection has been included that will be very useful for preventing spam and unwanted messages. You can configure a kind of key or code that the other person must enter If you want to open a chat with us for the first time using our username, it's a great way to filter who actually reaches our inbox.

This measure is especially useful in everyday contexts such as school parent groups or neighborhood communities, where we are sometimes obliged to participate but don't want to. dozens of strangers have direct access to our most private information. This way, even if someone sees our username in a group's member list, they won't be able to bother us privately unless we grant them access or already have their contact saved in our address book.

Synchronization for professionals and companies

Businesses and content creators will also be able to take advantage of this new technology. Those who already have an established brand on Instagram or Facebook will be able to link their accounts through Meta's Account Center to keep the same username across all company platforms. This greatly helps to project a more professional and consistent image, and also prevents anyone from trying to impersonate known identities through privacy features and opportunities corporations.

It's important to emphasize that, although the phone number will no longer be visible to new contacts, it will still be required to register the account for the service. Ultimately, the goal is for the user to have total control over its visibility, deciding at every moment what information to share and with whom, which brings us a little closer to the experience already offered by other messaging tools traditionally focused on the privacy of their users.

The arrival of the @ symbol marks a turning point in how we use this communication tool every day. With this phased implementation, the application overcomes one of its biggest weaknesses and offers its millions of users a much safer and more discreet way to chat without exposing sensitive data right away. Considering that There will not be a public profile search engine.The essence of the service remains intact but with much stronger protection against prying eyes, allowing everyone to manage their digital identity with a flexibility that was previously unthinkable.

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