This feature has been spotted in beta
Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 5:35 am
Introduction of Usernames (Future Privacy Enhancement): A major piece of news is that WhatsApp is actively developing and rolling out features that will allow users to choose and use unique usernames. This is a significant privacy enhancement, as it will enable users to share a username instead of their phone number to connect with others. versions and is expected to roll out more widely. This means in the future, you might be able to search for someone by their username directly, without needing their phone number. However, this is an optional feature and phone numbers will still be the primary identifier for existing contacts.
Past Concerns about wa.me links and Google Indexing (Largely Addressed): There were news reports in 2020 and 2021 about phone numbers associated with wa.me links (often used by businesses egypt whatsapp number data for "Click to Chat") being indexed by Google search, leading to privacy concerns. WhatsApp responded by implementing "no index" tags on these pages to prevent them from being widely indexed. While older cached results might still exist, WhatsApp has taken steps to address this, emphasizing that users who make their wa.me links public are essentially choosing to make their number discoverable.
Ongoing Privacy Features: WhatsApp continues to add features that give users more control over their privacy, such as:
"Silence unknown callers": Helps screen out spam and unwanted calls.
"Privacy Checkup": Guides users through privacy settings to customize who can see their last seen, profile photo, about info, and add them to groups.
Leaving groups silently: Allows users to exit groups without notifying all members.
In summary, while the phone number remains central to finding someone on WhatsApp, the platform is evolving. The upcoming username feature will offer a new, privacy-focused way to connect, but for now, saving the number to your contacts or using the wa.me link are the most effective methods. Always ensure you have the full international phone number for successful connection.
Past Concerns about wa.me links and Google Indexing (Largely Addressed): There were news reports in 2020 and 2021 about phone numbers associated with wa.me links (often used by businesses egypt whatsapp number data for "Click to Chat") being indexed by Google search, leading to privacy concerns. WhatsApp responded by implementing "no index" tags on these pages to prevent them from being widely indexed. While older cached results might still exist, WhatsApp has taken steps to address this, emphasizing that users who make their wa.me links public are essentially choosing to make their number discoverable.
Ongoing Privacy Features: WhatsApp continues to add features that give users more control over their privacy, such as:
"Silence unknown callers": Helps screen out spam and unwanted calls.
"Privacy Checkup": Guides users through privacy settings to customize who can see their last seen, profile photo, about info, and add them to groups.
Leaving groups silently: Allows users to exit groups without notifying all members.
In summary, while the phone number remains central to finding someone on WhatsApp, the platform is evolving. The upcoming username feature will offer a new, privacy-focused way to connect, but for now, saving the number to your contacts or using the wa.me link are the most effective methods. Always ensure you have the full international phone number for successful connection.