WhatsApp Introduces Usernames to Protect User Privacy

WhatsApp, the messaging application owned by Meta Platforms, announced on Monday that it will allow users to communicate using unique usernames rather than sharing their phone numbers. This move is intended to close a privacy loophole in the app's existing design.

The company stated that it has begun permitting users to reserve unique usernames, which can later be used to contact others once the feature is fully launched later this year. WhatsApp currently has over 3 billion users globally.

Until now, anyone with a user's phone number could contact them on the platform. The new feature will give users the option to be found and contacted solely through their username, keeping their phone number private. In a blog post, WhatsApp said the change will roll out over the coming months, though it did not specify an exact timeline.

Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's vice president of product, described the feature as a core privacy enhancement. She noted that there will be no public directory of usernames, and the app will not suggest usernames as users type. 'People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time,' she said.

Previously, WhatsApp's privacy settings were limited to blocking individual users and silencing unknown callers. The app also allowed users to set a profile name, but this was only visible in chat groups to others who did not have the user's contact saved.

While WhatsApp is less prevalent in the United States, where text messaging remains dominant, the app is widely used across Europe, Asia, and many other regions. The introduction of usernames is expected to be popular, as users often seek distinctive online handles. Newton-Rex said, 'I think a lot of people will go and get usernames and that’s why we decided to open reservations early.'

Companies, organisations, and creators with existing accounts on Meta's Instagram and Facebook platforms will have the opportunity to claim corresponding usernames on WhatsApp. Usernames must be between three and 35 characters. To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp will reserve certain usernames for high-profile individuals or groups, including celebrities, public figures, and government entities.