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Finally I can see names in WhatsApp, as I now just share the contacts that I actually use WhatsApp with. Meta dark-pattern coerces into sharing all contacts by not showing names on the message list until one does—even though the contact has a name in WhatsApp already.

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it's a privacy feature. I don't want to share my name with someone who doesn't have my contact.

WhatsApp have a name field that is public. It just does not want to use it for the chat list. Or allow you to edit it client side.

No, it’s not. The name is still visible, but not on the chat list, only the in-app contact card. Thus it’s an anti-privacy feature as it coerces users share all their contacts with Meta.

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