Signal now lets you keep your phone number private with the launch of usernames

Signal introduces usernames, allowing users to chat without sharing their phone numbers.
Usernames are launching in beta and will be available to all users soon.
Despite this, phone numbers are still required when registering for the app.
Usernames are not visible to others unless shared, and Signal does not provide a searchable directory of usernames.
Users can generate a QR code or link that directs people to their username.
Once a username is created, phone numbers will no longer be visible to anyone running the latest version of the app if they don’t already have it saved in their contacts.
Users can change the default setting in their “Phone Number” settings if they want their phone number to be visible when messaging others.
Usernames can be easily changed or deleted, allowing users to create specific usernames for events like conferences or group trips and change them afterwards.
To chat with someone via their username, users need to open the “New Chat” screen in the app and type in their username.
Signal is also introducing a new privacy setting that lets users control who can find them on the app with their phone number.