Phone-number login made messaging easy. It also made messaging accounts easy to connect to a real-world identity. A phone number can follow you across services, leak through contact discovery, and become a target for SIM-swap attacks.
Phone numbers are not neutral identifiers
A phone number is often attached to banking, delivery apps, government forms, work accounts, and family records. When a messenger requires it, the account starts with a strong identity anchor before a single message is sent.
Username-first communication is calmer
SafeSway uses email for account verification and recovery, but your in-app identity is based around username and display name. That makes it easier to talk without handing every contact a phone number.
Email sign-up is still data — so it should be explained
Privacy does not mean pretending no data exists. SafeSway uses email because account creation, verification, and password reset need a reliable channel. The important part is to keep the purpose narrow and be honest about it.