WhatsApp is currently testing a new user interface design, which aims to completely hide the phone number when browsing a user’s profile. Instead, it will be replaced with a “username” that the user defines within the application, in a step aimed at improving privacy and developing a mechanism for identity definition.
This modification is in line with WhatsApp’s efforts to adopt a model similar to modern social media platforms, while providing a higher level of protection for users, especially when communicating with companies or unfamiliar people.
For years, the application has relied on the phone number as a primary identifier, exposing users to risks such as data breaches or the exploitation of numbers by external parties. The new feature makes the “username” the main reference for communication, preventing the phone number from being displayed to parties that do not have it.
According to technical reports, the use of usernames adds an extra level of security and reduces the access of strangers or unwanted commercial entities to user numbers, especially after previous warnings about the possibility of exploiting the call feature to collect data and numbers on a large scale.
Although WhatsApp has confirmed that it has addressed these security issues, the introduction of usernames is considered an additional precautionary measure that reduces potential risks and reflects the application’s direction towards a more flexible and secure digital identity.
It is also expected that this step will allow companies and brands to build a clearer presence within WhatsApp, and interact with customers without having to share phone numbers directly.
So far, WhatsApp has not announced an official date for the launch of this feature, but current tests indicate that it will be rolled out gradually within upcoming application updates.
