Can WhatsApp be used without granting contacts permission?

I'm trying to install WhatsApp, but I'm obviously uncomfortable about serving up my entire address book for Facebook to trawl through. I've found plenty of posts from a few years back saying it is possible, but I'm wondering if something has changed. On opening the app and going to the 'chats' screen, I'm greeted with a screen saying >To help you message friends and family on WhatsApp, allow WhatsApp access to your contacts along with a link to open my settings. If I push the green 'chat' button in the bottom right, I get a popup with the same message. If I hit the 'not now' option, it closes the popup and puts me back on the original screen. There doesn't seem to be a way forward here. Does this app just strong-arm you into uploading your contacts list in order to use it? Or is it potentially a more phone-specific issue?