[TrianguloY]

If you talk with a number that is not in your agenda, WhatsApp will display the number. If you talk with a number that is on your agenda, WhatsApp will display the agenda name. WhatsApp never displays the nickname (on the list) no matter if you accept everything or not.

They could display the nickname, that could be a nice addition, but anyway removing the contacts permissions is the same as having an empty agenda. WhatsApp isn't degrading or punishing you.

[clusterfish]

So what, who cares how this works technically. They made it work that way, hiding usernames on purpose to push users to give their app contacts permissions that aren't needed to display usernames.

[cdirkx]

It does? At least in group chats I have hundreds of people not in my contact list but they display as "0123456789 ~Steven".

[TrianguloY]

That's why I said 'on the list' referring to the main screen (where you can see the list of all active chats). As far as I know the nickname is shown on messages on a group, next to the number, and on the info screen (of both a private and a group chat).

[tsimionescu]

Isn't that pulled from the agenda of other people in the group?

[pta2002]

That's the name you set for yourself

[YeBanKo]

signal shows usernames even when you don’t give access contacts.

[zuppy]

that is not totally true, at least not in group chats. i can see names or part of names of people that i don‘t have on my contact list.