According to a post on the Signal blog, the username feature allows you to chat with other people in the app without revealing your phone numbers, reports 24 Channels.

How does it work

Users can create a unique nickname in profile settings and share it with others using a QR code or link. The username is different from the name displayed in chats.

The blog also notes that the app hides a user’s phone number from their Signal profile by default. Users can also choose who can find them by phone number in privacy settings. This prevents users from being automatically added to Signal if their phone number is in your contact list.

What kind of a harbinger is this?

Signal is known for its end-to-end encryption and privacy-focused features like message disappearing, screen lock, and call forwarding.

The app has gained popularity among activists, journalists and privacy-conscious users, especially after WhatsApp’s controversial privacy policy update earlier this year.

Messenger has also received support from celebrities and tech leaders. According to Sensor Tower, Signal was downloaded more than 64 million times in the first quarter of 2024; This was an increase of 1,192 percent compared to the same period last year.