WhatsApp’s rollout of usernames is being heralded as a revolutionary way to keep your phone number private. Sounds great, right? Yet, let’s peel back the layers of this smokescreen. Mainstream media—looking at you, CNN—are framing this as a win for privacy. But are they really considering how much control Big Tech continues to exert over our lives? The narrative they push seems to gloss over the fact that the very platforms you thought safeguarded your privacy are relentlessly mining your data.

While they applaud WhatsApp’s latest “feature,” the truth is that it’s just another way for these platforms to direct user behavior. Platforms like Twitter have already tried this username thing, and surprise, surprise, it didn’t really solve any fundamental privacy issues. Instead, they often serve to increase engagement and keep you glued to your screen.

Fox News, for their part, will probably latch onto this as a moment of triumph in the battle for user autonomy, yet they often forget that the real battle is against corporate overreach. When do we see real discussions on privacy? When do we hold these companies accountable instead of perpetuating their narratives?

At the end of the day, this new username feature isn’t a radical leap for privacy but more of a marketing gimmick—a diversion while they continue to mine our data under the surface. Let’s stop falling for the corporate spin disguised as “user-friendly” updates.