WhatsApp is testing a new privacy feature that allows users to hide their phone numbers in community chats.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp’s “phone number privacy” feature will allow users to either make their numbers visible or keep them hidden when they react to messages in community chats. The feature is reportedly already available for beta testing and could be rolled out soon.
WhatsApp Phone Number Privacy
When users activate WhatsApp’s phone number privacy, community admins will still have access to their phone number, but it will be blocked from other users. To use this feature, users have to activate “Phone number privacy” in the group settings.
Users who have WhatsApp installed on two separate phones will have to activate this feature on both devices. Users can also request access to a group member’s hidden phone number, which will be revealed when the request is accepted.
WhatsApp’s new feature strikes a balance between interactivity and privacy. It’s unclear when WhatsApp will roll out this feature globally, but it is expected to become available to some users in the coming weeks.
How to Access WhatsApp’s New Feature
Follow these steps to try WhatsApp’s new privacy phone number feature:
- Ensure your WhatsApp is updated to the latest version.
- Join WhatsApp’s beta program for Android or iOS.
- Join a community or open a community you’re currently part of, go to the settings, and change your phone number visibility.
The new feature will be a welcome addition to WhatsApp’s already impressive privacy features.
WhatsApp has been on a mission to improve the privacy of its app following the 2021 controversy over an update to its privacy policy. The app has received some much-needed privacy features since then, like disappearing photos and videos. In May this year, WhatsApp also released a new feature called Chat Lock that allows users to protect their conversations with a password or biometric lock.
While WhatsApp cannot check the contents of your messages, the app collects certain user data, such as your phone number, profile picture, location, usage information, and contacts. Read our guide to optimizing your WhatsApp privacy settings to learn how to limit the information available to the app and protect your privacy.
Interested in exploring alternatives to WhatsApp? Check out the top picks in our article on the best encrypted messaging apps.
