This meant:
No new login credentials to remember: Your phone number was your ID.
Automatic Contact Discovery: By accessing your phone's address book, WhatsApp could instantly show you which of your friends were already on the app, making it incredibly easy to get started and connect. a key driver of its rapid adoption.
Global Reach: Phone numbers are a universal identifier globally, making it a simple way for WhatsApp to scale internationally without dealing with complex username systems across different cultures and languages.
2. Privacy Implications (and News Evolution):
While convenient, tying WhatsApp accounts malta whatsapp number data directly to phone numbers has also been a consistent source of privacy debate and news:
Phone Number Exposure: Your phone number is inherently visible to anyone you chat with on WhatsApp, even if they don't have your number saved. This has raised concerns for users who want to communicate with businesses, service providers, or casual acquaintances without fully exposing their personal number.
Limited Control Over Discoverability: Until recently, if someone had your phone number, they could almost certainly find you on WhatsApp (unless you blocked them). There wasn't a good way to be on WhatsApp but remain somewhat anonymous regarding your number.
3. The Big News: WhatsApp is Moving Beyond Phone Numbers!
This is where the recent news significantly changes the "why." While your phone number remains your primary identifier, WhatsApp is actively implementing new features to reduce its direct exposure and offer alternatives:
Usernames are Coming: This is the most significant development. News outlets are widely reporting on WhatsApp's ongoing rollout of a feature that allows users to create unique usernames (e.g., @yourchosenname).
Why it's a game-changer: You'll be able to share your username with people, and they can search for you and initiate a chat, without ever seeing your phone number. This directly addresses the privacy concern of phone number exposure.