WhatsApp has been rolling out a stream of updates lately across its platform.
The latest comes in the form of a profile update, with the app working on a new username feature. Included in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update is a new field in the profile section of the app, which asks users to choose their own unique handle.
The option brings WhatsApp one step closer to how people communicate on fellow Meta-owned app Instagram, though not much is known about how a username will work on the messaging app.
It could mean a significant change in how people find each other on WhatsApp and increase their privacy — instead of a person needing to share their personal phone number or QR code to chat, a user-chosen username might be enough.
End-to-end encryption is said to still be deployed on WhatsApp conversations started by username.
WhatsApp is also working on a redesigned settings page that includes three new shortcuts. It will be available in a future update of the app.
The announcement comes on the heels of another sought-out feature release: message editing.
The update allows users to alter a message within 15 minutes of sending it, with the caveat that it will have the word "edited" written beside the timestamp.
The messaging app also rolled out "Chat Lock" in May, a tool that lets users make specific one-on-one or group chats available solely by entering the password or biometric scanning. It also stops messages from popping up as notifications.
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