Settings > Privacy > Phone number has two options:
- "Who can see my number". If you choose "Nobody", then your phone number will not be visible to anyone unless they have it saved in their phone's contacts.
- "Who can find me by number". If you choose "Nobody", then nobody will be able to see you're on Signal unless you message them or have an existing chat with them.
[Not op] People (newbs) join signal and it shows I'm on. So they message me "hi!".
If I wanted whatsapp etc chats, I'd be on them, but signal is for my real friends, and essential contacts. I chose for several reasons, and being visible on everyone's list is not one of them.
- "Who can see my number". If you choose "Nobody", then your phone number will not be visible to anyone unless they have it saved in their phone's contacts.
- "Who can find me by number". If you choose "Nobody", then nobody will be able to see you're on Signal unless you message them or have an existing chat with them.