WhatsApp Unveils Usernames for Billions, Boosting Privacy; Singapore Fights Food Outbreaks

WhatsApp is shaking up how its three billion users connect globally, with the much-anticipated rollout of usernames now underway. This game-changing privacy feature allows users to ditch sharing their personal phone numbers, instead opting for a unique handle for new conversations. Meanwhile, in Singapore, authorities have flagged 55 food businesses, including central kitchens and caterers, for their involvement in 113 food poisoning outbreaks over the past two years. The global push by WhatsApp, a Meta-owned platform, directly addresses growing user concerns around digital privacy, aligning the messaging giant with competitors like Telegram and Signal that have long offered similar identity layers. High-profile figures like British boxer Anthony Joshua and Indian actor Aamir Khan are fronting campaigns to highlight the convenience and security of connecting via a username. This move comes as Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency and Singapore Food Agency continue to tackle persistent food safety challenges, with recent fines levied against operators like Stamford Catering Services and Yun Hai Yao for hygiene lapses contributing to gastroenteritis outbreaks. As WhatsApp username feature gradually rolls out to users worldwide in the coming months, its adoption could significantly alter how we initiate digital interactions, making our phone numbers less exposed. Simultaneously, Singaporean authorities will intensify inspections and enforce stricter regulations on food establishments, especially central kitchens and food caterers, to curb further outbreaks and ensure public health and safety. Users will want to check their WhatsApp settings for the new username option soon.