You Can No Longer Add KakaoTalk Friends by Number Alone... KakaoTalk Update

Kakao introduced the ‘Allow Friend Addition by Phone Number’ option on KakaoTalk on the 12th.

Users who update KakaoTalk to the latest version (v10.3.5) can choose whether to enable the ‘Allow Friend Addition by Phone Number’ option within the profile management section of KakaoTalk settings. Previously, if someone saved a user’s phone number, the user would be automatically added to that person’s friend list. However, if the option is disabled, even if others have the user’s phone number in their contacts or try to add friends by searching the phone number, the friend addition will not be successful.

KakaoTalk already had privacy protection features such as Multi-Profile, Block, and Talk Siren, but this new option is expected to reduce users’ anxiety caused by unwanted friend additions or stress from phishing, spam, and other unnecessary messages.

After the update, to add a user who has disabled this option as a friend, you must click the Add Friend button at the top of the Friends tab and add them via KakaoTalk ID or scan their friend addition QR code. Alternatively, you can add friends by clicking their profile in a KakaoTalk group chat.

The ‘Allow Friend Addition by Phone Number’ option is part of Kakao’s ongoing ‘KakaoTalk Easy’ project. Kakao launched the KakaoTalk Easy project last May with the aim of reducing users’ conversation stress and burden while enhancing convenience in daily life. Over three months, various improvements such as ‘Quiet Exit’ and ‘Quiet Chat Rooms’ were added.

Kakao also introduced user convenience features with this update. First, the ‘Double Tap Reaction on Speech Bubbles’ feature, which was previously experimental, has been officially implemented. Users can now quickly and easily leave reactions such as ‘Heart,’ ‘Thumbs Up,’ and ‘Check’ by double-tapping the speech bubbles they have set.

Managing storage space within KakaoTalk has also become easier. Users who update to the latest version can check the data size of each chat room in storage management within settings and manage cached and media data collectively.

Yang Ju-il, head of KakaoTalk at Kakao, said, “Although KakaoTalk has grown loved by many people, we have recognized that user inconvenience and burden have increased as the volume and purposes of communication have diversified. Through the KakaoTalk Easy project, we are improving and adding various convenience features. We will continue to reflect diverse improvements to enhance user satisfaction and convenience.”