WhatsApp plans to bring in more privacy features and 'Username and Pin' is an optional feature that empowers the user with more control over their personal security.

The Meta-owned app is adding more features to add another layer of privacy for its user base. Interested users can test out the new features in the Android Version 2.24.18.2. The privacy update is aimed at reducing the rate of cyber fraud within the app.

Username and PIN: What users can expect from this feature

WhatsApp will give the users three privacy choices namely, "Username with PIN', 'Username' and 'Phone number'. If users select the Username option, then they are allowed to hide their phone numbers and show just the username. Existing contacts with the user's phone numbers can still view the numbers. So this feature is only limited to new contacts.

Through the Username and PIN feature, people wanting to contact someone for the first time on WhatsApp will be required to know the user's PIN as well as the username. The user's phone number can now be substituted with a username instead. Users are given the choice of not sharing their phone numbers with anyone and everyone. Discord has a similar feature which enables its users to conceal the users' real names and adopt a display name of their choosing.

These features are currently undergoing beta testing but according to reports, these features have been under development for quite a while. Another feature available in the beta version is the 'like' reaction which lets users 'like' a user's status. This feature is expected to work very similarly to Instagram's story-liking feature.

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