WhatsApp has announced that users will soon have the option to use usernames instead of phone numbers, addressing a privacy concern. The messaging app has begun allowing users to reserve unique usernames, which will enable others to contact them once the feature rolls out later this year. Previously, WhatsApp allowed users to be contacted by anyone with their phone number.
In a recent blog post, WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, stated that in the “coming months,” users will be able to choose to be found and contacted solely by their username rather than their phone number. This change is being introduced as a core privacy feature, according to Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product. The app will not have a directory of usernames, and it will not suggest names as users type. To contact someone for the first time, individuals will need to know the exact username.
The app’s current privacy settings include the ability to block individual users and silence unknown callers. Additionally, users can set a profile name, visible only in chat groups for those who do not have the user’s contact information saved. While text messaging remains popular in the U.S., WhatsApp is widely used in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.
The introduction of usernames is expected to spark a race for appealing handles, with users likely rushing to secure desirable names. Companies, organizations, and creators with existing accounts on Meta’s social media platforms, Instagram, and Facebook, will have the opportunity to claim their usernames on WhatsApp. Usernames must be between three and 35 characters in length. To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp will reserve usernames for high-profile individuals, celebrities, public figures, and government entities.
