This is the most significant development

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Contact Discovery: WhatsApp scans your phone's address book. If a number in your contacts is also a WhatsApp user, they will appear in your WhatsApp contact list, allowing you to message them.
Visibility: In a standard chat, the person you are messaging will always see your phone number, even if they don't have you saved as a contact. This is how the app is designed to function, similar to how SMS works.
News on Phone Number Privacy & New Features (Upcoming Changes & Enhancements):

Recent news highlights WhatsApp's efforts to israel whatsapp number data give users more control over their phone number's visibility and offer alternative ways to connect:

Usernames are Coming (Big News!): WhatsApp is actively developing and rolling out a feature that will allow users to create unique usernames (e.g., @yourusername).

How it changes things: This means you'll be able to connect and chat with people by sharing your username, without needing to give them your phone number directly. This is a major privacy enhancement, especially for connecting with new contacts or in less personal settings.

Status: This feature has been widely reported in beta versions for Android and iOS. While there's no exact universal release date, its presence in betas suggests it's nearing a broader public rollout. It's expected to be an optional feature, allowing users to choose how they prefer to be discovered.
Phone Number Privacy in Communities: WhatsApp has introduced and is rolling out a "Phone Number Privacy" feature specifically for Communities.

Why it's important: In large WhatsApp Communities, this feature allows members to interact without their phone numbers being visible to every other member in the community. Only community admins and those who have already saved your number in their contacts will see it.
Benefit: This is a crucial step for larger group environments, enhancing privacy and reducing unwanted direct messages from unknown members within a community.