WhatsApp is set to enhance user privacy with its latest update, introducing usernames and PINs.
This new feature, currently available in the beta version for Android, allows users to replace their phone numbers with unique usernames, offering a higher level of privacy.
Users can choose from three privacy settings: “Username,” “Phone number,” or “Username with PIN.” The “Username” option lets users keep their phone numbers hidden, displaying only their chosen username to others.
For those seeking even more privacy, the “Username with PIN” feature adds a four-digit PIN that must be shared with new contacts to start a conversation.
Existing contacts who already have a user’s phone number can still message them, even with the PIN feature active.
In addition, WhatsApp is testing a new “status like” feature, similar to Instagram’s story likes, allowing users to react to status updates with a quick “like.”
These features are part of WhatsApp’s broader effort to improve user privacy and control over personal information, aligning with modern privacy standards.
The rollout is expected to expand beyond the beta phase later this year.