WhatsApp has announced plans to introduce usernames as an alternative to phone numbers for its users, aiming to enhance privacy protections. Users can now reserve unique usernames, which will allow others to contact them when the feature rolls out later this year. Previously, WhatsApp users could be reached by anyone with their phone number.
In a recent blog post, WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, revealed that in the “coming months,” users will have the option to be discovered and contacted solely by their username, rather than their phone number. This change is being positioned as a fundamental privacy enhancement, according to Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product. The app will not have a directory of usernames or provide suggestions while typing, requiring individuals to know the exact username to initiate contact.
The current privacy settings on WhatsApp include blocking specific users and muting unknown callers. Users can set a profile name, visible only in chat groups for individuals who do not have the user’s contact information saved. While text messaging remains popular in the United States, WhatsApp is widely utilized in Europe, Asia, and other regions worldwide.
The introduction of usernames is expected to trigger a rush for appealing online handles, as users vie to secure desirable names. Companies, organizations, and creators with accounts on Meta’s other 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, usernames for notable individuals, celebrities, public figures, and government entities will be reserved by WhatsApp.
