Earlier, it was reported that WhatsApp is working on replacing phone numbers with usernames. Although the feature is not yet available to the public, WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature that allows users to set a PIN for their username. This will prevent unknown persons from sending messages even if they have your username.
According to the report by WABetaInfo, the feature was spotted in the beta version 2.24.18.2 of WhatsApp on Android. With this update, WhatsApp will display three different options in the privacy settings.
- Username – Your phone number will be hidden, and the users will only see your username. However, existing contacts who already have your phone number can still view it. Only new users will be prevented from seeing your phone number.
- Phone number – It will display the phone number to other users.
- Username with PIN – While selecting this option, you need to set a four-digit PIN. Only people who have this PIN can chat with you, even if they know your username. The downside is that existing contacts can still send messages to you, even if the PIN feature is enabled.
There is no exact information on when this feature will be rolled out to the public. Once it was released, people could communicate with other WhatsApp users without sharing their phone numbers. However, it is expected that WhatsApp may keep this feature option so that users can turn it on when they want.