WhatsApp, one of the most popular instant messaging apps with around 3 billion monthly active users, continues to innovate to improve the user experience and strengthen privacy. Among the new features in development, a highly anticipated option resurfaces: the ability to replace your phone number with a nickname to communicate with other users. This major advancement is part of Meta’s strategy to offer more control over the information shared on the platform.
This new feature, tested for over a year, is becoming clearer thanks to the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android (2.24.18.2). In this version, the interface allows you to choose a unique username that can replace the phone number during conversations. The uniqueness of the nickname is essential, which means that you will have to act quickly to reserve yours before it is taken.
In addition to this feature, another interesting option is introduced: the ability to set a PIN code associated with your nickname. This code will allow you to control who can contact you for the first time. In concrete terms, if someone wants to send you a message without having interacted with you before, they will have to enter this code first. This provides an additional layer of security, preventing unsolicited messages, especially if your nickname is easily guessable. Existing contacts, on the other hand, will not need this code.
This privacy enhancement is a boon for users who are concerned about protecting their personal data while using the app smoothly. In addition to this feature, WhatsApp is also working on other ways to limit unwanted messages and improve privacy protection.
