WhatsApp is working on a new privacy feature that will allow users to decide who can see their phone number and who cannot.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature was spotted in WhatsApp’s Android beta version 2.26.45.1. Under the new feature, users will be given four options for controlling the visibility of their phone numbers: everyone, contacts only, contacts except selected individuals, and nobody.
Through these settings, users will be able to decide who can see their phone numbers while making calls or chatting on WhatsApp.
According to the report, the feature will only be available to users who have created a username on WhatsApp. However, people who already have a user’s phone number saved will still be able to see it during calls and chats.
Currently, WhatsApp automatically hides users’ phone numbers from people who contact them through their usernames. Under the upcoming feature, the default phone number visibility setting will be set to ‘Nobody’, meaning users will not need to make any additional changes to keep their numbers private.
On the other hand, users who wish to share their phone numbers with others for business or other purposes will be able to change their privacy settings according to their preferences.
It is worth mentioning that the feature is still under development, and WhatsApp has not yet announced an official release date.
