LONDON – WhatsApp is preparing to introduce usernames as an alternative way for people to connect on its messaging platform, marking a significant privacy-focused change that will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers.
The announcement was made by WhatsApp on Monday through an official company blog post, where the Meta-owned messaging platform said users can begin reserving unique usernames ahead of the feature’s broader release later this year. The company said the update is designed to reduce the need to expose personal phone numbers when initiating conversations.
With more than 3 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp has traditionally relied on phone numbers as the primary method for identifying and contacting accounts. The upcoming system introduces a different approach by allowing users to be discovered through a unique username instead.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product, said the feature was designed with privacy as its primary objective.
According to Newton-Rex, users who enable the option will be reachable only by their exact username rather than their phone number. She also clarified that WhatsApp will not maintain a searchable username directory or provide username suggestions while people search, reducing the likelihood of unsolicited contact.
The company has not announced an exact launch date beyond saying the feature will become available over the coming months.
Usernames Designed to Limit Personal Information Sharing
The introduction of usernames addresses a longstanding privacy limitation on WhatsApp, where anyone possessing another person’s phone number could attempt to initiate contact.
Current privacy tools on the platform include blocking individual users, silencing unknown callers, and displaying optional profile names within group chats for participants who have not saved one another’s contact details. Those measures do not remove the requirement to use phone numbers as account identifiers.
Under the new system, users will have the option of sharing a username instead of their personal mobile number when communicating with new contacts.
Reservation Process Opens Before Global Rollout
WhatsApp said it is opening username reservations ahead of the public launch to give users an opportunity to secure preferred names before the feature becomes widely available.
Newton-Rex acknowledged that desirable usernames are expected to attract significant interest, which influenced the company’s decision to allow early reservations.
Businesses, organizations and creators that already operate verified or established accounts on Meta’s other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, will also be eligible to reserve matching usernames for WhatsApp.
Rules Intended to Reduce Impersonation Risks
WhatsApp said usernames must contain between three and 35 characters.
To help reduce impersonation, the company plans to reserve certain usernames associated with celebrities, public figures, government organizations and other high-profile entities rather than making them immediately available for public registration.
The company has not provided additional technical details on how those protected usernames will be managed.
Although WhatsApp remains less widely used than traditional text messaging services in the United States, it continues to serve as one of the world’s largest messaging platforms across Europe, Asia and many other regions. The username system represents one of the platform’s most notable identity and privacy updates by reducing dependence on phone numbers while maintaining existing account security.
Tags: WhatsApp, Meta, Usernames, Privacy, Messaging Apps, Digital Identity, Online Privacy, Meta Platforms, Mobile Apps, Technology
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