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I do exactly this but take it even one step further. My actual (primary) phone number is only ever given out to humans. I have a second Google Voice phone number that I give out to machines (e.g. online shopping that "requires" a phone number that will eventually be leaked).

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What happens when one of the people to whom you gave your number shares their contacts with some app?

This is why I use a numeric pager, digits handed out to both machines and humans.

I call back from an unlisted number. Few people have my actual phone #.

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If people are persistant, I usually mention something to the effect of "you don't want my phone number in your device, I know some weird people."

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The first time I used Venmo, was also my last — the "feature" which show you every person who has your phone number in their phonebook was a bit too weird [the idea of public payments also strange].

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