Give Your Username Instead Of Your Phone Number

WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve unique usernames ahead of a wider rollout planned for later this year. The idea is that, under a new system, WhatsApp users will be able to give someone a username instead of their mobile phone number, meaning they can communicate without revealing the number connected to their account.

WhatsApp explained the reason for the feature, saying: “Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits.”

That could be particularly useful, for example, when joining community groups, meeting someone at an event, communicating with a business or speaking to someone online for the first time.

WhatsApp says the reservation process is being opened gradually because the platform has more than three billion users and many people will inevitably want similar names. Once the option becomes available, users can reserve a name through the Account section of the app’s settings.

How Will Usernames Work?

The feature is designed to provide greater privacy without making WhatsApp users publicly searchable.

It’s understood that there will be no directory of usernames and no suggestions showing people they might want to contact, and someone will need to know the exact username before they can start a conversation.

And A Key

Users will also be able to create an optional username key, providing another layer of protection against unwanted contact.

Once the full feature launches, people who have enabled a username will be able to message a new person or business without their phone number being displayed. However, a mobile number will still be required to create a WhatsApp account in the first place.

For creators, businesses and organisations that want a consistent identity, WhatsApp has also created a way to claim an existing Instagram or Facebook username.

Why Has India Intervened?

However, it seems the rollout quickly attracted regulatory attention in India, WhatsApp’s largest national market.

The Indian government has asked WhatsApp to pause the introduction of usernames in the country while consultations take place, amid concerns that the feature could make fraud, phishing and impersonation easier.

The main concern is that criminals could create usernames resembling those of banks, government departments, businesses or well-known individuals and then use them to contact potential victims without displaying a phone number.

This is particularly significant in India, where authorities have been trying to combat a growing problem with cyber fraud, including so-called digital arrest scams in which criminals impersonate police officers or government officials.

The government intervention came shortly after WhatsApp opened username reservations, transforming the launch from a straightforward product announcement into a test of how privacy features should be balanced against fraud prevention and law enforcement concerns.

What Does WhatsApp Say About The Risks?

WhatsApp argues that it has already built several layers of protection into the system.

High-profile usernames associated with public figures, government bodies, celebrities and verified Meta accounts have been reserved so that they can only be claimed by legitimate owners. The company says variations of well-known names are also being protected.

WhatsApp has also said it will limit the number of new people an account can contact, prevent repeated attempts to guess username keys and use its systems to identify common patterns associated with impersonation and abuse.

Recipients of messages from first-time contacts will also be given contextual information, such as whether the sender has a new account, shares mutual groups with them or is based in another country.

The company says: “We’re taking our time and listening to feedback so that when it rolls out later this year we get it right.”

A Genuine Privacy Benefit

Despite the controversy, there does seem to be quite a clear privacy argument for introducing usernames.

For example, phone numbers are increasingly used as identifiers across banking, online accounts, two-factor authentication and other digital services. Giving one to a stranger can therefore reveal more personal information than someone may realise.

Usernames provide a way to separate someone’s WhatsApp identity from their mobile number, making it easier to communicate with new contacts without immediately sharing that information.

This is particularly relevant for business networking, online marketplaces, community groups, customer enquiries and other situations where people may want to communicate without establishing a deeper personal connection.

WhatsApp summarises the thinking behind the feature by saying: “A phone number is personal and it’s tied to so many parts of your life.”

However, the challenge is that privacy features that protect genuine users can also potentially make life easier for criminals. The debate is therefore not simply about whether usernames are good or bad, but whether platforms can introduce stronger privacy without weakening trust and accountability.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For businesses, the introduction of WhatsApp usernames could make the platform more useful for customer communication. Employees may be able to speak with customers, suppliers or new contacts without sharing personal mobile numbers, while businesses could create a more consistent identity across WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.

However, the fraud concerns raised by the Indian government also highlight the growing importance of digital identity verification.

If usernames become widely used, businesses may need to be more careful about how customers identify genuine accounts. Criminals already impersonate banks, suppliers, senior executives and well-known brands, and convincing username variations could create another opportunity for social engineering.

Organisations using WhatsApp for customer service may therefore need to communicate clearly which accounts are genuine, while employees should be trained not to assume that a familiar-looking username proves someone’s identity.

The wider story here is really about the difficult balance between privacy and trust. Hiding phone numbers can protect users from unwanted exposure, but every new layer of anonymity can also create opportunities for abuse.

WhatsApp’s challenge is to prove that usernames can provide meaningful privacy without making impersonation and fraud easier. How that balance is achieved could influence not only the future of WhatsApp, but also how messaging platforms around the world design privacy features in the years ahead.

The post Featured Article : Fraud Fears Over New WhatsApp Usernames appeared first on Mear Technology.

Search Conversations By Date For Android 

The first of three new updates of significance for WhatsApp is the “search by date” function for individual and group chats on Android devices. Previously, this function had been available on other platforms (iOS, Mac desktop and WhatsApp Web). 

As featured on Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg’s WhatsApp channel (Meta owns WhatsApp), WhatsApp users on Android can now search for a chat on a particular date (not just within a range). For example, one-on-one or group chat details can be date searched by tapping on the contact or the group name, tapping on the search button, and then tapping the calendar icon (right-hand side of the search box), and selecting the individual date. This feature is likely to deliver a better user experience by giving greater precision and control and potentially saving time in locating specific messages. 

Privacy Boost From User Profile Change 

Another potentially beneficial boost to the privacy aspect of what is already an end-to-end encrypted messaging app is (in the beta version) closing the loophole on sharing profile pictures without consent, impersonation, and harassment by preventing users from taking screenshots within the app. If users try to screenshot a profile picture, for example, WhatsApp now displays a warning message. Although the ability to download profile pictures was stopped 5 years ago, it was still possible to take screenshots. Closing this loophole in the latest update should, therefore, contribute to greater user privacy and safety. 

Minimum Age Lowered To 13 

One slightly more controversial change to WhatsApp’ T&C’s’s terms and conditions however is the lowering of the minimum age of users in Europe (and the UK) to 13 from 16. This brings the service in line with its minimum age rules in the US and Australia, and the move by WhatsApp was taken in response to new EU regulations, namely the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and to ensure a consistent minimum age requirement globally. The two new regulations have been introduced both to tackle illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation, and to help steer large online platforms toward behaving more fairly. 

In addition to the minimum age change, WhatsApp is also updating its Terms of Service and Privacy Policies to add more details about what is or is not allowed on the messaging service and to inform users about the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The framework is designed to provide reliable mechanisms for personal data transfers between the EU and the US in a way that’s compliant and consistent with both EU and US law, thereby ensuring data protection. 

Criticism 

However, although the minimum age change (which may sound quite young to many parents) will be good for WhatsApp by expanding its user base and good for users by expanding digital inclusion and family connectivity, it has also attracted some criticism. 

For example, the fact that there’s no checking/verification of how old users say they are (i.e. it relies on self-declaration of age and parental monitoring) has led to concerns that more reliable methods are needed. The concern, of course, also extends to children younger than 13 accessing online platforms (e.g. social media) despite the set age limits. 

In Meta’s (WhatsApp’s) defence, however, it already protects privacy with end-to-end encryption and has resisted calls and pressure for government ‘back doors’. It has also taken other measures to protect young users. These include, for example, the ability to block contacts (and report problematic behaviour), control over group additions, the option to customise privacy settings, and more.  

Competitors 

Regarding compliance with new EU regulations, the European Commission has been actively engaging with large online platforms and search engines, including Snapchat, under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Also, given the widespread impact of these regulations on digital platforms and their emphasis on data privacy and security, it is likely that Signal (a competitor), and other messaging and social media platforms, are taking steps to align with these new requirements. 

Some people may also remember that Snapchat came under scrutiny last summer from the UK’s data regulator to determine if it is effectively preventing underage users from accessing its platform. The investigation was in response to concerns about Snapchat’s measures to remove children under 13, as UK law required parental consent for processing the data of children under this age.  

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The latest WhatsApp updates, alongside the broader implications of new EU and UK regulations, herald potentially significant shifts for businesses, messaging app users, and the industry at large. These changes, encompassing enhanced search functionalities, privacy safeguards, and adjustments to user age limits, will reshape some user experiences and offer both challenges and opportunities. 

The “search by date” function for Android users should enhance user convenience and accessibility, save time, facilitate precise and efficient message retrieval, plus improve user engagement and satisfaction. Businesses leveraging WhatsApp for customer service or internal communications, for example, could find this feature particularly beneficial, i.e. by enabling quicker access to pertinent information, and streamlined interactions. 

The extra privacy enhancements essentially reflect a growing industry-wide focus on user security and digital safety and will strengthen individual privacy (always welcome). They also emphasise the importance of user-consent and control over personal information and should remind businesses of the need to prioritise and manage user data both in line with (evolving) regulatory standards and today’s consumer expectations. 

The adjustment of WhatsApp’s minimum user age in Europe and the UK presents a bit more of a nuanced landscape. While aiming to broaden digital inclusion and connectivity, this change also highlights the complexities of age verification and online safety. Messaging and other platforms, however, must find ways to navigate these complexities, ensuring compliance while fostering a safe and inclusive digital environment for younger users. 

The broader context of the DSA and DMA, along with similar regulatory efforts in the UK, signal the transformative period that digital platforms are now in and although we can all see the benefit of curtailing harmful online activities, there’s also an argument for resisting pressure to go as far as giving governments back doors (thereby destroying the privacy and exposing to other risks). Messaging apps and social media platforms, including WhatsApp and its competitors (e.g. Snapchat, Signal, and others) have known regulations were coming, probably expect more in future, and are now having to adapt to enable compliance and retain trust while introducing other features valued for users at the same time.  

Businesses using apps like WhatsApp (which also has a specific business version) are likely to already value its privacy features, e.g. its end-to-end encryption, for data protection. As such, they are unlikely to oppose any more helpful privacy-focused, or improved user experience changes, as long as they don’t interfere with the ease of use of the app (or result in extra costs).

The post Featured Article : WhatsApp Updates appeared first on Mear Technology.

The ‘Spy Clause’ 

Under what’s been dubbed the ‘spy clause’ (Clause 122) in the UK’s Online Safety Bill, the government had stated Ofcom could issue notices to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal (which use end-to-end encryption) that would allow the deployment of scanning software. The reason given was to scan for child sex abuse images on the platforms. However, the messaging apps argued that this would effectively destroy the end-to-end encryption, an important privacy feature valued by customers. This led to both WhatsApp and Signal threatening to pull their services out of the UK if the Bill went through with the clause in it.  

Also, some privacy groups, like the Open Rights Group, argued that forcing the scanning of private messages on apps amounted to an expansion of mass surveillance. 

Climbdown 

However, in a recent statement to the House of Lords junior arts and heritage minister Lord Stephen Parkinson announced that the government would be backing down on the issue. Lord Parkinson said: “When deciding whether to issue a notice, Ofcom will work closely with the service to help identify reasonable, technically feasible solutions to address child sexual exploitation and abuse risk, including drawing on evidence from a skilled persons report. If appropriate technology which meets these requirements does not exist, Ofcom cannot require its use.” 

In other words, the technology that enables scanning of messages without violating encryption doesn’t currently exist and, therefore, under the amended version of the bill, WhatsApp and Signal will not be required to have their messages scanned (until such technology does exist). 

This is a significant climbdown for the government which has been pushing for ‘back doors’ and scanning of encrypted apps for many years, particularly since it was revealed that the London Bridge terror attack appeared to have been planned via WhatsApp. 

Victory – Signal & WhatsApp 

Writing on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Meredith Whittaker, the president of Signal, said the government’s apparent climbdown was “a victory, not a defeat” for the tech companies. She also admitted, however, that it wasn’t a total victory, saying “we would have loved to see this in the text of the law itself.” 

Also posting on ‘X,’ Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp said that WhatsApp “remains vigilant against threats” to its end-to-end encryption service, adding that “scanning everyone’s messages would destroy privacy as we know it. That was as true last year as it is today.” 

Omnishambles 

Following the news of the government’s ‘spy clause’ climbdown, privacy advocates the Open Rights Group’ (ORG) highlighted the fact that on the one hand, the government had conceded that the technology that would have been needed to scan messages didn’t exist, while on the other hand appeared they to say they hadn’t conceded.  Describing the matter as an “omnishambles,” the ORG highlighted how during an appearance on Times radio, Michelle Donelan MP said that, “We haven’t changed the bill at all” and that “further work to develop the technology was needed.” 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For apps like WhatsApp and Signal, this is not only a victory against government pressure but is also good news for business as, presumably, they will continue to operate in the UK market.

This is also good news for many UK businesses that routinely use WhatsApp as part of their business communications and won’t need to worry (for the time being) about having their commercially (and personally) sensitive messages scanned, thereby posing a risk to privacy and security, and perhaps increasing the risk of hacks and data breaches. It appears that the UK government has been forced to admit the technology does not yet exist that can scan messages on end-to-end encrypted services and maintain the integrity of that end-to-end encryption at the same time. It also appears that it may realistically take quite some time (years) before this technology exists, thereby making the victory all the sweeter for the encrypted apps.

The government’s climbdown on ‘clause 122’ (the ‘spy clause’), is also being celebrated by the many privacy groups that have long argued against it on the grounds of it enabling mass surveillance.  

The post Featured Article : Temporary Climb-Down By UK Government appeared first on Mear Technology.

Message Seamlessly Across All Devices

WhatsApp says that this change gives users globally the ability to message seamlessly across all their devices without signing out, and to pick up their chats where they left off.

Employees Can Use The Same Account

For small businesses, for example, being able to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones means that in addition to the business owner, other employees are now able to respond to customers directly from their phones under the same WhatsApp Business account.

Phone As One Of Up To Four Additional Devices

The change means that users can link their phone as one of up to four additional devices, the same as when linking with WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops.

When and Who?

The update has already started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.

Maintains The Same Level Of Privacy And Security

WhatsApp says that the change won’t mean any loss of privacy and security because:

• Each linked phone connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted.
• If the primary device is inactive for a long period, WhatsApp will automatically log the primary out of all companion devices.

Receive One-Time Code

WhatsApp has also said that it’s introducing an alternative and more accessible way to link to companion devices by allowing users to enter their phone number on WhatsApp Web to receive a one-time code, which can be used on their phone to enable device linking, rather than having to scan a QR code.

Isn’t WhatsApp Going To Block UK Users Anyway?

Whilst this sounds like a potentially useful update, it’s not long since the boss of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, said he would rather stop users in the UK from using the app than lower its security, as suggested by the UK’s Online Safety Bill. It’s also only a couple of weeks since Cathcart and the head of the Signal app signed an open letter warning of ‘unprecedented threat to safety and security’ of UK citizens if the bill effectively ended end-to-end encryption and allowed the scanning of private messages.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For small businesses, allowing multiple employees to connect to the same WhatsApp account with their individual devices could deliver faster and more joined-up communications as they can respond directly to customers. It will also save time and effort by not having to sign out and by being able to quickly pick up their chats where they left off, thereby improving efficiency.

Giving WhatsApp Web users the option to be sent a code rather than always having to scan a QR Code may also simplify matters for many users. Businesses will also be pleased to hear that the new WhatsApp update won’t compromise security and privacy. However, WhatsApp has still not resolved its issue with the UK government over the Online Safety Bill’s potential to damage the privacy and security of the app, and UK businesses are still faced with the prospect that WhatsApp could simply ban them as users if the issue is not resolved soon.

The post Tech News : WhatsApp Wows: One Account Accessible on Multiple Mobile appeared first on Mear Technology.

Find A Business – Browse Businesses By Category 

WhatsApp says that it is launching a new ‘Business Search’ feature. This allows users to browse businesses by category, or search by the business name. WhatsApp says that using this feature within the app can “save people from having to find phone numbers off websites or type a number into their contacts.” 

Also, WhatsApp says an added privacy bonus of this feature is that whatever users search for within business search is processed in a way that means it can’t be linked back to their account. 

Make Secure Payments Within Chats 

Although WhatsApp stressed in its progress update that its “first principle remains keeping people in control of their conversations”, i.e. its message service, its new secure checkout feature allows users to make a secure payment right from a chat with their credit or debit card. Recently launched in India and being tested in Brazil with “multiple payment partners,” WhatsApp describes the seamless checkout within its App as “a game-changer for people and businesses looking to buy and sell on WhatsApp without having to go to a website, open another app or pay in person.” 

Many Business Focused Features Being Introduced 

These latest features follow WhatsApp’s launch of ‘Communities’ which was designed to capitalise on the fact that many non-profit organisations, as well as businesses now use WhatsApp, and build more engagement and loyalty among these valuable segments. Meta’s WhatsApp has been introducing many features over the last few years designed to attract more business users an monetise the app. These include, for example, voice and video calling, the ability to share files within WhatsApp up to 2GB in size, improvements to voice messaging, Linked Device (WhatsApp Web) and more. WhatsApp already has ‘WhatsApp Business,’ launched in January 2018 in the UK. 

Staying Within The App 

The new WhatsApp features also highlight how many apps, WhatsApp included and recently Zoom (with its Mail and Calendar Clients and Services) are trying broaden the range of services that can be accessed within their apps so users (especially business users) don’t have to leave the app. Eventually, many apps are looking to become ‘super apps’ that provide a diverse range of service and shopping opportunities in one app. 

Trouble At Meta Mill 

Recently however, following a slump in advertising revenue from Facebook and Instagram, alongside two poor financial results from investor confusion about and huge investment in the slow-burning Metaverse concept, there’s trouble for Meta. WhatsApp’s owner Meta recently announced that it was laying off a massive 13 per cent of its workforce globally in re-structuring. The pressure, therefore, is now even more on WhatsApp to bring in more revenue and attract more business customers. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With Meta’s recent poor financial performance, declining advertising revenue from its core services, plus competition from other apps targeting the business market WhatsApp needs to keep adding more features (as it has been doing for some time) and broadening these features to attract and bring in more revenue from business customers.

Features like business search and secure checkouts within chats may help both businesses and users as well as a way to keep users within the app and move it more towards being a potential complete and secure service. This will help WhatsApp compete in an environment where individual apps are trying to gain share by expanding their range of services to become one-stop shops and super apps.

The post WhatsApp’s New Business Directory Search Function appeared first on Mear Technology.

Communities 

The Communities feature, for iOS and Android, allows users to connect multiple groups, e.g. schools, local clubs, non-profit organisations, and businesses together under one umbrella to organise group conversations on WhatsApp. In Communities, users can switch between different available groups to get information, plus admins can send important updates to everyone in the Community.  

More Secure Than The Alternatives? 

The Communities feature is likely to take over from Groups, and offers an alternative to platforms like Discord, Slack, and Meta’s own Messenger, with the extra selling point of “a level of privacy and security not found anywhere else”. For example, WhatsApp says about Communities: “The alternatives available today require trusting apps or software companies with a copy of their messages – and we think they deserve the higher level of security provided by end-to-end encryption.” 

In-Chat polls 

Another new feature also being launched in WhatsApp soon is in-chat polls. Tested back in April, and similar to voting polls features on other platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, in-chat polls can be used in Groups and Communities to make it easier for group members to make democratic decisions or to gather opinions of group members on specific subjects.  

32 Person Video Calling & Groups With Up To 1024 users 

WhatsApp has also announced the rollout of 32-person video calling (more than is allowed on a Discord or Slack video call), and groups with up to 1024 users which it says can be used in any group but will be particularly helpful for Communities. 

Loads Of New Features Lately 

Meta’s WhatsApp has been piling-on the new features this year to help it compete more effectively in an environment where, following the pandemic, online groups and collaborative remote working has become the norm for many. New features introduced this year include: 

– Privacy features like Leave Groups Silently, Choose Who Can See When You’re Online, and Screenshot Blocking For View Once Messages. 

– Emojis and the ability to share files within WhatsApp up to 2GB in size. 

– Improvements to voice messaging, including Out of Chat Playback, Pause/Resume Recording, Waveform Visualization, Draft Preview, Remember Playback, and Fast Playback on Forwarded Messages. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The new ‘Communities’ feature is about Meta capitalising on the fact that many non-profit organisations, as well as businesses now use WhatsApp, and that building in more engagement and loyalty among these valuable segments could also deliver competitive advantage and benefits. This follows attempts dating back to 2018 to attract more small businesses (of which there is a large number) with WhatsApp Business followed by its testing of a multi-device capability to appeal to multi-device owning (business) users. Adding features to expand the capabilities of Communities, i.e. in-chat polls, 32-person video calling and groups with up to 1024 users enable WhatsApp to both compete effectively with a raft of its rivals (Slack, Discord, Twitter, Instagram), create a successor Groups, establish WhatsApp as a leading group comms app, and fully take advantage of the post-pandemic demand for effective online group chat and information platforms.

The post WhatsApp Launches ‘Communities’ appeared first on Mear Technology.