Let people use WhatsApp without exposing their phone number

The submitted context

WhatsApp still uses phone numbers as the primary identity in ordinary chats and many group contexts. Two community posts describe organizers and members having to reveal personal numbers to people they do not know, while current phone-number privacy is limited to particular community surfaces. Username reservation is now available, and the full username-based communication feature has begun rolling out to a limited number of users, but it is not yet available to everyone; reporting says WhatsApp expects broader availability over the coming months. Please complete that rollout across chats, groups, communities, calls, and linked devices, with clear controls over who can discover or see a phone number and safe migration for existing contacts. Evidence reviewed 2026-08-09: https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-officially-announces-usernames-as-a-major-update/ https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/18dby64/any_way_for_groupcommunity_to_only_share_profile/ https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/1cgbu59/whatsapp_communities_privacy_of_phone_numbers/