What are users' expectations regarding the privacy of their phone numbers on WhatsApp?

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1. Control Over Visibility:

Limited Exposure: Users generally expect that their phone number will primarily be visible to their saved contacts. The default setting of "My Contacts" for profile photo, about info, and status updates reflects this expectation.
Privacy from Strangers: There's a strong expectation that their phone number won't be readily available to individuals they haven't explicitly connected with or who are not in their contact list. Receiving unsolicited messages from unknown numbers is a major privacy concern.
Group Privacy: Users expect control over who can add them to groups, as being added to unwanted groups can expose their phone number to numerous unknown individuals. WhatsApp's group privacy settings ("Everyone," "My Contacts," "My Contacts Except...") cater to this expectation.
2. Protection Against Unsolicited Contact:

Blocking and Reporting: Users expect effective tools to laos whatsapp number data block unwanted numbers and report suspicious activity, including spam and harassment. The availability and functionality of these features are crucial for meeting privacy expectations.
Silence Unknown Callers: The introduction of features like "Silence unknown callers" directly addresses the expectation of filtering out potentially intrusive or spam calls.
3. Data Security and Confidentiality:

End-to-End Encryption: While end-to-end encryption primarily applies to message content, it contributes to the overall perception of WhatsApp as a secure platform where personal communication, linked to their phone number, remains private.
Limited Data Sharing: Users expect WhatsApp to limit the sharing of their phone number and associated data with third parties without their explicit consent. Concerns around data sharing with Facebook (Meta) have historically been a significant point of discussion regarding user privacy expectations.
Secure Storage: Users expect WhatsApp to store their phone numbers and related data securely to prevent unauthorized access or data breaches.
4. Transparency and Control Over Usage:

Clear Privacy Policies: Users expect WhatsApp to have clear and easily understandable privacy policies that explain how their phone number is used and protected.
Control Over Account Information: Users expect to have control over other profile information linked to their phone number, such as their profile photo, "about" status, and online presence. The ability to customize "Last Seen" and "Online" visibility reflects this.
No Public Display: Users generally do not expect their phone number to be publicly displayed or searchable within the WhatsApp platform.
5. Business Interactions:

Opt-in for Business Communication: Users expect businesses to obtain explicit consent before contacting them via WhatsApp for marketing or promotional purposes. Unsolicited business messages are often viewed as a privacy violation.
Clear Business Identification: When businesses do contact users, there's an expectation of clear identification and transparency regarding the purpose of the communication.
It's important to note that:

Phone Number as Identifier: WhatsApp's fundamental architecture relies on phone numbers as the primary user identifier. This inherently means that when communicating with someone, your phone number is visible to them.
No Option to Hide Number: As of the current date (May 19, 2025), WhatsApp does not offer a feature to completely hide your phone number from contacts you are communicating with.
In conclusion, users' expectations regarding the privacy of their phone numbers on WhatsApp center around control over visibility, protection from unwanted contact, data security, transparency, and ethical business communication practices. While WhatsApp offers various privacy settings to manage the visibility of other profile information, the inherent nature of the platform means that your phone number is generally visible to those you interact with. Users rely on WhatsApp's security measures and their own ability to manage contacts and block unwanted numbers to maintain their desired level of privacy.