WhatsApp is developing a new privacy feature that will allow users to control who can see their phone numbers during calls and chats. The feature was discovered in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.45.1 for Android, according to WABetaInfo.
The new tool builds on the username feature introduced in June, which allows users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. While WhatsApp has not fully rolled out usernames, users are already able to reserve their preferred usernames.
WhatsApp is testing four specific phone number visibility options:
Everyone: Allows everyone to see your phone number.
My contacts: Limits visibility to saved contacts.
My contacts except…: Lets users hide their numbers from selected contacts.
Nobody: Hides the phone number from other users.
These settings will allow users to control who can view their phone numbers in WhatsApp calls and chats, but the feature will only work for users who have set up a WhatsApp username. People who already know a user’s phone number will continue to see it.
Under the upcoming feature, the default visibility setting will be “Nobody,” meaning users who want to keep their numbers private will not need to change anything. However, users who want to share their phone numbers for business or other purposes will be able to adjust the visibility settings.
The new phone number privacy controls are still under development and are not available to beta testers. WhatsApp has not announced a release date, though the feature is expected to reach beta users before becoming available to the public.
