As of: February 22, 2024, 6:43 a.m
By: Julian Mayr
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Meta is planning to introduce a new individual feature for the WhatsApp messenger.
This could serve the security and privacy of users.
Bremen – There are also some innovations waiting for the WhatsApp messenger service in 2024.
Due to the EU's "Digital Market Act" (DMA), it should be possible in the future to communicate with contacts on other messaging apps via WhatsApp.
Whether this will happen this year remains uncertain.
In addition to new formatting options, consumers can almost certainly expect an innovation in 2024 that will make it possible to use Meta's messenger service in the future even without a phone number.
New feature for WhatsApp: Creating a username could make phone numbers obsolete
As early as October 2023, the blog WABetaInfo
reported
on Meta's plans to allow WhatsApp users to create a user name.
At first glance, the new feature doesn't sound like a revolutionary change, as usernames have long been in use on many other online platforms such as Instagram, X or TikTok.
Nevertheless, the introduction of a unique username should represent an important step towards more privacy.
Future WhatsApp updates could mean more security and privacy for users with unique usernames.
(Symbolic image) © Andre M. Chang/IMAGO
According to the well-informed blog, a verification step for users will still be necessary.
What exactly this will look like in the future is not yet known.
For users, however, an individual user name could mean that they are no longer dependent on revealing their telephone number in order to connect with other users via WhatsApp.
Individual username on WhatsApp is an important step for more data protection and security
“In our opinion, the introduction of usernames is consistent with the obligation to improve data protection and security,” writes the specialist blog about the introduction of the new function.
It is not yet known when exactly an update will bring the new product to users' smartphones.
The username function is currently still in development.
After all, WABetaInfo
already gives
a rough insight into what will specifically change for users.
WhatsApp users will have the opportunity to set an individual username.
By entering this unique name, other users can find and contact the desired contact on WhatsApp - but without being able to see the contact person's phone number.
This applies equally to private individuals and business accounts.
Even after a possible username update, conversations will continue to be protected as usual via end-to-end encryption, reports
WABetaInfo.
A chat block in the messenger service has been providing more privacy for a few months now.